Eleanor Roosevelt was an American human rights advocate, writer and public figure who served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 during the presidency of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Born in New York City and orphaned as a child, she was educated partly in England before becoming involved in social and political work. As First Lady, she travelled widely, reported on living and working conditions, and used speeches, journalism and public appearances to address civil rights, women’s participation, labour issues and social welfare.

After Franklin Roosevelt’s death, President Harry S. Truman appointed her to the United States delegation to the United Nations. She became the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and chaired the committee involved in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948. She remained active in public affairs, wrote the syndicated My Day column for nearly three decades, and later chaired President John F. Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women.