19 Facts About Catherine Breshkovsky

Catherine Breshkovsky has been described as Russia's first female political prisoner.

Catherine Breshkovsky spent over four decades in prison and Siberian exile for peaceful opposition to Tsarism, acquiring, in her latter years, international stature as a political prisoner.

In February 1874, she gave birth to a son, Nikolay Breshko-Catherine Breshkovsky, and left him to be brought up by relatives.

Catherine Breshkovsky did not see him again until he was aged 22, and learnt that they had nothing in common.

Catherine Breshkovsky later became a thriller writer, and Nazi sympathiser.

Catherine Breshkovsky was transported to St Petersburg, where, at 31, she was the oldest of 37 women held in the House of Preliminary Detention, all accused of political offences.

Catherine Breshkovsky was, reputedly, the first woman in Russia sentenced to katorga for a political offence, which earned her the respect of other revolutionaries.

In 1879, Catherine Breshkovsky's sentence was commuted to exile in the Transbaikal region of Siberia.

Catherine Breshkovsky was exiled again to Seleginsk village, in Transbaikal where the American journalist and explorer George Kennan interviewed her in 1885.

Catherine Breshkovsky was a lady perhaps 35 years of age with a strong, intelligent, but not handsome face, a frank unreserved manner and sympathies that seemed to be warm, impulsive, and generous.

Catherine Breshkovsky's face bore traces of much suffering, and her thick, dark wavy hair, which had been cut in prison at the mines, was streaked here and there with grey.

Catherine Breshkovsky was released in 1896, after 22 years in prison or exile, under an amnesty marking the coronation of the Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.

In 1904, Catherine Breshkovsky travelled to the US, where her name was well known because of George Kennan's book.

Catherine Breshkovsky raised about $10,000 for the Socialist Revolutionary Party.

Catherine Breshkovsky returned to Russia in time for the outbreak of the 1905 Revolution.

Catherine Breshkovsky was at large until 1908, when Azef again betrayed her to the police and she was interned in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Catherine Breshkovsky was held in solitary confinement in Irkutsk prison for two years, then deported to Yakutsk, close to the Arctic Circle, but after protests from her American sympathisers, was returned to Irkutsk.

Catherine Breshkovsky was elected in October 1917 to the Pre-Parliament, ahead of a nationwide election to a Constituent Assembly, and as its oldest member was appointed to chair its first meeting.

Catherine Breshkovsky was chained in a stockade for 42 years, but they couldn't break her.