Elizabeth Wilkinson (c.1700-unknown) was a star boxer from 18th century England.
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Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
Fighting has long been deemed a men’s realm. That’s true in the world of sports as well as war. But women have been contenders in the ring for centuries. Today we’re talking about a star boxer from 18th century England. Meet Elizabeth Wilkinson.
Little is known about Elizabeth Wilkinson. She was likely born in the early 1700’s.
She worked to hone her skills at her preferred sport as a student at a training academy founded by James Figg, the first recognized bare-knuckle boxing champion.
Figg and other fighters of the time took advantage of the increasingly literate population to advertise their fights in newspapers. They would promote their next gig, insult and challenge their opponents, and aggrandize their accomplishments. These papers are historical documents whose preservation fights the erasure of stories like Elizabeth’s. What we do know about her life and career comes from the challenges she printed.
In 1722 The London Journal printed Elizabeth’s challenge to Hannah Hyfield, another fighter. She wrote:
“I Elizabeth Wilkinson of Clerkewell, having had some Words with Hannah Hyfield, and requiring Satisfaction, do invite her to meet me on the Stage, and Box me for Three Guineas, each Woman holding Half a Crown in each Hand, and the first Woman that drop her Money to Use the Battle.”
There is no record of Elizabeth’s career prior to this fight. That casts doubt on the certainty of her name. Some have suggested that she was born with another and later changed it to Elizabeth Wilkinson. Regardless, after beating Hannah Hyfield, Elizabeth became a regular fighter in James Figg’s boxing venues. She dominated the ring and earned the nickname the “European Championess.”
At some point between 1722 and 1726 Elizabeth married James Stokes, a fellow boxer, and became Elizabeth Wilkinson Stokes. They were often challenged as a pair: Elizabeth would fight the wife of the opposing couple and James, the husband.
On October 1st, 1726, The British Gazetteer published a challenge to Elizabeth by an Irish woman named Mary Welch. The fight would take place in the amphitheater Elizabeth’s husband owned. Mary Welch’s challenge read:
“I, Mary Welch, from the Kingdom of Ireland, being taught and knowing the Noble Science of Defence, and thought to be the only Female of this Kind in Europe, understanding here is one on this Kingdom, who has exercised on the publick Stage several Times, which is Mrs. Stokes, who is biled the famous Championess of England; I do hereby invite her to meet me, and exercise the awful Weapons practiced on the Stage, at her own Amphitheatre, doubting not, but to let her and the worthy Spectators fee, that my Judgement and Courage is beyond hers.”
Though there is no official record of the result, it seems Elizabeth remained undefeated. Later, Elizabeth and James took on a challenge by Mary Welch and her Irish partner, Robert Baker.
Elizabeth’s career, bolstered by challenges and boasts, continued in the media through 1730. She was also an instructor to aspiring young boxers, and featured their fights in her challenges. And though Elizabeth primarily fought in boxing matches, she was also known for her skills with a short sword and dagger.
Though Elizabeth defied gender roles, she was actually celebrated by many for her skills. She was praised for her prowess and was a fixture of national pride, becoming even more popular than her teacher, James Figg. She may be the most venerated female professional boxer in British history. Our understanding of the details of her life is limited by a lack of documents. We don’t know what happened to Elizabeth after her career came to a close.
What we do know is that she was neither the first nor the last woman to defy gender norms to enter the boxing ring. Her success likely inspired others to do the same.
This was our final episode about Olympians or women who maybe should have been Olympians. Tune in tomorrow for our very exciting new theme. For June, it’s all about Pride!
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