30 Of The Most Inspirational Mothers

1. Marie Curie

Image source/ biographyMarie Curie had an amazing contribution in science, leading her to win two nobel prizes early in the 20th century. However, a tragic accident which lead to the death of her husband meant that she was alone not only to contribute to her demanding science work but also to raise Irene and Eve : her two young children. What's even more impressive is that she managed to find time to home-school her children. 

2. Cleopatra

Image source/ heritagedailyPharaoh of ancient Egypt from 51-30 BC, Cleopatra had her first child: Caesarion with Roman leader Julius Caesar. Her dedication towards her sons safety was evident when she became involved in a conflict with Caesar's adopted son. Cleopatra tried to plan her sons escape from the adopted son: Octavian. Despite, the pharaohs best efforts, Octavion still managed to find and kill her teenage son. 

3. Anne Boleyn

Image source/ biographyAnne Boleyn was second in Henry VIII's list of six wives and what her husband wanted most in life was a son and heir to the throne. Anne did not provide this as she gave him a daughter named Elizabeth. Henry wasn't best pleased about this and decided to get Anne put to death. Elizabeth was only two at the time but went on to become queen for 45 years in 1558. Even though Anne lost her head, she still had the last laugh with her daughter. 

4. Eleanor Roosevelt

Image source/ britannicaEleanor Roosevelt was married to famous president Franklin but before his presidential reign, they had six children but one tragically died at the age of four. Eleanor managed to bring up the other five children whilst Franklin managed his political career. Whilst raising the five children Eleanor surprisingly found time to do voluntary work in WW1 for the red cross. 

Image source/ thoughtco

Lucretia Mott was a committed women's rights campaigner and slavery abolition. In 1811 she married and had six children. Lucretia was very welcoming and kind as she welcomed all races into her home. Her warmth impacted here children as they all went on to become active campaigners. 

6. Emmeline Pankhurst

Image source/ thoughtcoEmmeline Pankhurst was the leader of a triumphant campaign that gave females the right to vote. Although much of her time was dedicated on the cause, she was also a mother to five children. Pankhurst had three daughters who she inspired with her belief about women's rights, leading to all three of them to be involved with the cause. 

7. Queen Elizabeth II

Image source/ alamyWhilst busy being Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II had time to mother four children. Elizabeth has no doubt worked hard to support her children and she can be proud that her four children have been inspired by her strong leadership and sense of duty, making them good people and future leaders. 

8. Alberta Williams King

Image source/ timeAlberta Williams King had a world famous son named Martin Luther King. Alberta had very strong views on racial segregation during the childhood of Martin which clearly had an impact on her son as he became a world famous civil rights campaigner and improved the lives of many people in America. 

9. Nancy Edison

Image source/ edisonmuckersNancy Edison and her husband, Samuel had seven children and one of them was the famous Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb. Nancy played a big part in Thomas' life according to Thomas as she believed in him and his work which inspired him to work harder and his hard work eventually paid off with the invention of the lightbulb. 

10. Madam CJ Walker

Image source/ biographyMadam CJ Walker was a very successful business woman who became a millionaire in the early 20th century. Walker had one child, a daughter named A'Leila and during her childhood, Walker's business continued to grow. Madam CJ Walker sadly died in 1919 but her daughter was inspired by her mother's work and decided to carry on the business. 

11. Mary Maxwell Gates

Image source/ historylinkMary Maxwell Gates had three children with her husband Bill Gates Sr. Mary raised all three children equally but only one of them went on to become one of the most successful people in the world. That was her son Bill Gates Jr. who went on to be one of the founders of Microsoft. However, Bill's mother had a part to play in that as she was a successful public figure so her name gave Bill the opportunity to earn his first contract. 

12. Mary Kay Ash

Image source/ entrepreneurMary Kay Ash was the founder of the billion dollar business Mary Kay Cosmetics. She had three children all with her first husband J. Ben Rogers but was on her own in the bringing up of all three children. At this point in her life Ash was working hard to make her successful business whilst also being a mother of three. 

13. Angelina Jolie

Image source/ vanityfairFamous film star Angelina Jolie has had three children with Brad Pitt whilst also adopting three children as well: Maddox, Zahara and Pax who are all from different countries. The actress has a very supportive view on adoption and has raised her three adopted children just like her own. 

14. Eleanor Of Aquitaine

Image source/ theneweuropeanEleanor of Aquitaine was mother of ten children; five sons and three daughters with King Henry II and two daughters with Louis VII. Eleanor helped her five sons in a revolution against their father. This rebellion was successful and eventually, her son Richard took the English throne. 

15. Hoelun

Image source/ worldhistoryHoelun was captured and forced to marry one of her captors with whom she had a famous child named Genghis Khan. When her husband died, Hoelun and her children were abandoned and left to fend for themselves where they barely survived but Hoelun still managed to raise a leader of the Mongol hordes. 

16. Harriet Tubman 

Image source/ britannicaHarriet Tubman successfully escaped slavery through a railroad that was found underground and helped transport enslaved people from the south to the north. Tubman and her husband adopted a girl named Gertie but because her husband suffered from tuberculosis, Harriet was left to raise the girl on her own. 

17. Josephine Baker

Image source/ biographyJosephine Baker was a successful American born dancer whose career came to life in France. Baker could not have children her self but that did not stop the dancer from creating a family. Baker and her husband adopted twelve children from countries all over the world 

18. Christine De Pizan

Image source/ bookriotChristine De Pizan was just 25 years old with two children when her husband died, leaving her alone to raise both children. Christine worked hard for her children and made a living by writing poems which helped build her a following which led to her becoming an advocate for girls education.

19. Michelle Obama

Image source/ hellomagazineMichelle Obama and her husband Barack Obama have had two daughters Michelle had a big role to play whilst her husband was president. As well as raising two children, Michelle has launched many organisations devoted to health and education. Michelle also instilled her childhood values into her children to make them better people. 

20. Serena Williams

Image source/eonlineAs if winning 23 Grand Slam titles was not enough, Serena Williams has become the epitome of momgoals. The fact that Serena won at the Australian Grand Slam whilst pregnant with her daughter, Olympia shows what an inspiration she is as she dedicated her comeback to other mothers around the world. 

21. J.K Rowling

Image source/ biographyJ.K Rowling wrote her first four Harry Potter books as a single mother. She worked hard to pursue her career in writing as well as raising her children. This lead to her becoming president of an organisation that supports single mothers and their children and provides resources to help them succeed. 

22. Princess Diana

Image source/ insiderPrincess Diana was known as the people's princess and she had two sons with husband Prince Charles. Diana worked hard to try and give her children a normal childhood and the Princess worked with charities that supported children's hospitals. Her humanitarianism impacted her children as after her death, Prince William, one of her sons became a royal patron of a Child Bereavement charity. 

23. Maria Theresa Of Austria

Image source/ biographyMaria Theresa of Austria managed to find time to have sixteen children. Whilst having and raising  her children she was fighting to preserve her country which was constantly threatened. She still managed to raise all sixteen successfully although some of them had apparently been quite frustrating. 

24. Lakshmi Bai

Image source/ nationalgeographicLakshmi and her husband Maharaja of Jhansi had no children, so when her husband was on his deathbed, Lakshmi adopted a three year old boy named Damodar Rao. She did this to ensure they had an heir to the throne so the land would not revert to the British. The British refused and Lakshmi rose to them with her adopted son head of the army. Lakshmi died but her son escaped and went on to live his life. 

25. Indira Gandhi

Image source/ indiatodayIndira Gandhi was a single mother as well as being India's first women premier. S he had two sons with her husband Feroze who had died during the children's childhood. Indira had to pursue her political career as well as raise her two sons, which would not have made politics any easier. 

26. Queen Boudica

Image source/ weaponsandwarfareQueen Boudica and her husband King Prasutagus had two daughters together before Prasutagus died leaving Boudica a single mother. The Romans, who were occupying England at the time, had assaulted Boudica and her daughters and because of her love for her children, she decided to avenge them by leading a rebellion against the Romans. 

27. Ann Reeves Jarvis

Image source/ nationalgeographicAnn Reeve Jarvis was a campaigner after the civil war and wanted reconciliation between the north and the south. She sadly died but her work impacted her daughter who was inspired by her mother to start a crusade for an annual day to honour mothers ll around the world and this is known as mothers day. 

28. Abigail Adams

Image source/ historyAbigail Adams and her husband President John Adams had five kids together. As her husband was away with work, Abigail was looking after the children and educating them. As well as this she managed to find time to run their farm, write letters supporting equal rights for women and the abolition of slavery. 

29. Sojourner Truth

Image source/ biographySojourner Truth attempted to escape slavery in 1826 but she was only able to bring her infant along with her, leaving her three other children behind. Truth heard the news that her children had been sold so decided to go to the law who successfully saved her five year old son making Truth the first African American to beat a white slave owner in court. 

30. Pink

Image source/ usatodayPink has two children who she takes on tour with her when performing concerts around the world. Pink also manages to home school her children as well as pursuing her music career.Pink also made s documentary about her life which showed her dedication and love towards her children.