Radical Reformers: Victoria Woodhull

Victoria Woodhull is the first woman to ever run for President of the United States. Even by today’s standards, she was quite a character. From humble beginnings, eloping at 15, telling fortunes for a living, to being the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage firm and a weekly newspaper. She was a spiritual advisor to railroad magnate, Cornelis Vanderbuilt, as well as being a very outspoken activist for labor reform, suffrage, and “free love”. Even Stanton and Anthony found her to be too radical on some issues but, love her or hate her, Woodhall defined herself on her own terms.