Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, Lister was a remarkable figure whose life and writings have left a significant legacy, particularly in the context of LGBTQ+ history. As a landowner, she managed her family estate, Shibden Hall, with considerable skill and independence, which was unusual for a woman of her time. Her business acumen and determination allowed her to navigate the male-dominated spheres of property management and industry, challenging the conventional gender roles of the early 19th century.

 

However, it is her personal life and diaries that have garnered the most attention in modern times. Anne Lister kept extensive diaries, amounting to over four million words, in which she documented her daily life, travels, business dealings, and, most notably, her romantic and sexual relationships with women. A significant portion of these diaries was written in a cryptic code, which she devised herself, combining Greek letters, algebraic symbols, and punctuation marks. This code was used to conceal the intimate details of her relationships, reflecting the societal constraints and potential dangers of being openly lesbian during her era.

 

Lister’s relationships with women were profound and passionate; often on long trips abroad; muscular and androgynous in appearance, always dressed in black and highly educated, she was later known—generally unkindly—as “Gentleman Jack” (An HBO television series of the same epithet, Gentleman Jack, starring Suranne Jones, was well-received.)

 

One of her most significant partnerships was with Ann Walker, a wealthy heiress from nearby Lightcliffe. The two women exchanged vows in a private ceremony at Holy Trinity Church in York in 1834, an act that some historians consider one of the earliest known examples of a same-sex marriage in Western history. Although their union was not legally recognized, it was a deeply committed relationship, and the two women lived together at Shibden Hall.

 

Lister’s diaries were decoded in the 20th century, revealing her unapologetic embrace of her sexuality and her determination to live authentically despite societal norms. Her candid accounts of her relationships, desires, and struggles have led to her being dubbed “the first modern lesbian” by historians and scholars. Her life offers a rare and invaluable insight into the experiences of queer women in a time when such identities were largely invisible or suppressed.

 

In addition to her personal life, Lister was an intrepid traveler, venturing as far as Russia and the Caucasus. Her diaries also provide detailed observations of the places she visited, the people she met, and the social and political climates of the regions she explored. These travelogues add another layer to her multifaceted legacy, showcasing her curiosity, intelligence, and adventurous spirit.