38 Truly Inspirational Moms From Throughout History

The story of the human race owes so much to mothers that it would be difficult to praise them too much. So, we’ve rounded up 38 of the most inspirational and extraordinary maternal figures from history in an unashamed appreciation. Read on to discover the massive contributions and sacrifices made by these remarkable moms – from Jackie Kennedy to Cleopatra.

38. Maria Theresa of Austria

Maria Theresa of Austria became the ruler of that nation in 1740. And in the 20 years after succeeding to the throne, she gave birth to 16 children! At the same time as this almost impossibly rigorous schedule of childbirth, she fought to preserve her country which was under constant threat from hostile powers. The matriarch took a detailed interest in the children’s upbringing. But as they grew up, some pleased her, while others were apparently frustrating. If you have 16 children, getting along well with all of them is probably well nigh impossible!

37. Emmeline Pankhurst

British women have a lot to thank Emmeline Pankhurst for. After all, she was one of the leaders of the ultimately successful campaign to give females the right to vote. But even though much of her time was spent on pursuing this just cause, she was also a mother. The activist had three girls and two boys, though one of the latter sadly died young. Pankhurst also inspired the three daughters with her belief in women’s rights, as they all were heavily involved in the suffragette cause, too.

36. Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman escaped slavery via the Underground Railroad that spirited the enslaved from the South to the North and later became a central figure in the system’s operation. With her husband Nelson Davis – also a former slave – she adopted a girl in 1874. She was called Gertie and because Davis suffered badly from tuberculosis, Tubman was left to support the family singlehandedly. That’s a major challenge that many a mother can relate to.

35. Marie Curie

We remember Polish-born Marie Curie for her extraordinary contribution to science. Her research into radioactivity was rewarded by two Nobel Prizes in the early 20th century. Yet tragedy struck Madame Curie’s life when an accident killed her husband in Paris in 1906. That left her alone to not only pursue her demanding scientific work but also to bring up two young children: Irène and Ève. Unimpressed by the Parisian education system, she even found time to home-school the girls!