Jane Austen is to be the new female face on the £10 note. But what other women could us Brits have picked?
Ten pounds ... Jane Austen on the new bank notes.
ONLY two women have ever been the face of a British banknote, but that’s set to change from 2017. The Bank of England has announced that the much-loved 19th century novelist Jane Austen will join the likes of English prison reformer Elizabeth Fry and founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale as the third non-royal to appear on our country's currency.
She will replace scientist Charles Darwin after widespread protests came from feminist campaigners who argued that if former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was picked, the only other woman to be depicted on a banknote would be the Queen.
Lauded as both a literary and feminist icon, Austen was a front runner in the selection process. Some Brits, however, are sceptical of the decision, saying she was also the safest option. Here are some other females the GB Mag office thinks could have chosen:
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)
A close second to Austen, Wollstonecraft was the author of ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ in 1792 which argued that British women needed equal opportunities in education. She is frequently seen as a founding feminist philosopher for her wide breadth of work and even gave birth to another famous author, Mary Shelley, who wrote the horror story Frankenstein. Not many know that Wollstonecraft also took part in the French Revolution.
A close second to Austen, Wollstonecraft was the author of ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ in 1792 which argued that British women needed equal opportunities in education. She is frequently seen as a founding feminist philosopher for her wide breadth of work and even gave birth to another famous author, Mary Shelley, who wrote the horror story Frankenstein. Not many know that Wollstonecraft also took part in the French Revolution.
Mary Seacole (1805-1881)
A Jamaican nurse of Scottish and Creole descent, Seacole is often seen as a Crimean War heroine whose reputation rivals that of Florence Nightingale. Armed with a knowledge of Caribbean herbal medicine, Seacole set up her own hotel to help the wounded soldiers. She was voted the greatest black Briton back in 2004, finally gaining the recognition she deserved.
A Jamaican nurse of Scottish and Creole descent, Seacole is often seen as a Crimean War heroine whose reputation rivals that of Florence Nightingale. Armed with a knowledge of Caribbean herbal medicine, Seacole set up her own hotel to help the wounded soldiers. She was voted the greatest black Briton back in 2004, finally gaining the recognition she deserved.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
A writer and dramatist, Aphra Behn is often left out of the history books. Her most famous work, 1688's ‘Oroonoko’, was a story about an enslaved African that laid the foundations for the modern English novel. She also translated many poems and fiction from French and Latin into English, and was even employed by King Charles II as a spy for the English court. Pretty awesome if you ask us.
A writer and dramatist, Aphra Behn is often left out of the history books. Her most famous work, 1688's ‘Oroonoko’, was a story about an enslaved African that laid the foundations for the modern English novel. She also translated many poems and fiction from French and Latin into English, and was even employed by King Charles II as a spy for the English court. Pretty awesome if you ask us.
Katie Price (1978-present)
No, we're only joking. Price, best known as her glamour model name Jordan, rose to fame in the 1990s and remained into the celebrity spotlight with a career in fashion, beauty, television and as a pop singer.
No, we're only joking. Price, best known as her glamour model name Jordan, rose to fame in the 1990s and remained into the celebrity spotlight with a career in fashion, beauty, television and as a pop singer.
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)
A controversial political figure, many are divided on whether Thatcher was a force for good or bad. Regardless, she was Britain's first female Prime Minister and her sweeping reforms certainly left an impression on the British public. Her recent death sent shockwaves around the world but her legacy will not be forgotten any time soon.
A controversial political figure, many are divided on whether Thatcher was a force for good or bad. Regardless, she was Britain's first female Prime Minister and her sweeping reforms certainly left an impression on the British public. Her recent death sent shockwaves around the world but her legacy will not be forgotten any time soon.
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