About

Come to the Queen' House this April and enjoy a salon discussing the life of Penelope Steel, a Jamaican-born merchant, publisher, and cartographer active in London during the early 19th century. 

In the history of navigational technology, it is men who have been celebrated. With the Industrial Revolution there was an appetite for scientific advancement, but the gender norms were still quite inflexible. 

Professor Pragya Agarwal's research over the last six years in various archives around the world have revealed how women overcame these barriers, made maps and developed nautical instruments that advanced mapmaking during this time. 

In this brief talk, Agarwal will present her research into the life of Penelope Steel and her contributions to maritime navigation and colonial expansion.