Josefa de Jovellanos, “La Argandona” (1745-1807)

An intelligent and enlightened woman, poetess (often in bable dialect) she tried, unsuccessfully, to join the Real Sociedad de Amigos del País de Madrid (Royal Society of Friends of Madrid). Her famous and illustrious brother, Gaspar de Jovellanos, an avid follower of Rousseau, advised against her acceptance by the Society as an alternative, the Junta de Damas (Women’s League) was set up in parallel.

To a certain extent, and with all the necessary nuances, we can establish a certain comparison between her activities and modern charities as she carried out important social work and claimed for education for underprivileged women, who were in prison or in hospital, and because she founded and financed the Escuela de Niñas (School for girls), a charitable free education for 24 poor girls.