Maria Trubnikova (6 January 1835 – 28 April 1897) was a Russian feminist and activist. From a wealthy family, she was orphaned at a young age and raised by her aunt. She married Konstantin Trubnikov at the age of 19; they had seven children. Trubnikova hosted a women-only salon which became a center of feminist activism. Alongside Anna Filosofova and Nadezhda Stasova, whom she mentored, Trubnikova was one of the earliest leaders of the Russian women's movement; the three women were referred to as the "triumvirate". They founded several organizations designed to promote women's cultural and economic independence, as well as pushing for higher education for women. Trubnikova maintained international connections to fellow feminists in England, France, and other countries. Over time, her once-liberal husband grew implacably opposed to her activism, and they separated. Trubnikova later experienced severe illness; she died in an asylum in 1897.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Trubnikova

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1725:

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, a chorale cantata for Epiphany. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebster_Immanuel,_Herzog_der_Frommen,_BWV_123

1912:

German geophysicist Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift, the precursor of plate tectonics, to the German Geological Society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_drift

1953:

The inaugural Asian Socialist Conference, an organisation of socialist political parties, opened in Rangoon with 177 delegates, observers and fraternal guests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Socialist_Conference

2014:

The first episode of the documentary series Benefits Street aired on Channel 4, prompting discussion in the United Kingdom about welfare dependency. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefits_Street

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

incumbent: 1. Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else. 2. (botany) Of an anther: lying on the inner side of the filament; also, of a cotyledon: having its back lying against the radicle. 3. (zoology) Of a body part such as a hair, spine, or wing: bent downwards or otherwise positioned so that it, or part of it, rests on or touches something else; specifically (ornithology), of the hind toe of a bird: fully resting on a support. 4. (figurative) 5. Being the current holder of an office or a title; specifically (Christianity, obsolete), of an ecclesiastical benefice. 6. Oppressive, pressuring. 7. Followed by on or upon: imposed on one as an obligation, especially due to one's office or position. 8. (poetic) Hanging or leaning over. 9. (obsolete) Putting much effort into an activity or some work. 10. (obsolete) Weighing on one's mind. 11. The current holder of an office or title; (specifically, Christianity) the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice. 12. (business) A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/incumbent

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

This is an attack on our democracy, our way of life, and not just by the criminals who assaulted our Congress today.  The good news is our Constitution is strong, and our people are overwhelmingly devoted to the rule of law.  What we need to do going forward — what we have to do as a people — not as Democrats, or Republicans, or independents, but as Americans, is to ask ourselves how did we ever get to this place.  We need to look infinitely harder at who we elect to any office in our land.  At the office seeker's character, at their morals, at their ethical record, their integrity, their honesty, their flaws, what they have said about women, and minorities, why they are seeking office in the first place, and only then consider the policies they espouse.   --John F. Kelly https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_F._Kelly