Antoinette Brown Blackwell

Antoinette Brown Blackwell
Blackwell, c. 1900
Born
Antoinette Louisa Brown

(1825-05-20)May 20, 1825
DiedNovember 5, 1921(1921-11-05) (aged 96)
Other namesAntoinette Blackwell
Known forFirst woman American ordained minister, Women's rights
SpouseSamuel Charles Blackwell
Children7

Antoinette Louisa Brown, later Antoinette Brown Blackwell (May 20, 1825 – November 5, 1921), was the first woman to be ordained as a mainstream Protestant minister in the United States. She was a well-versed public speaker on the paramount issues of her time and distinguished herself from her contemporaries with her use of religious faith in her efforts to expand women's rights. She was also known for her science based refutation of Darwin's gender bias in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex with her book The Sexes Throughout Nature.