Anne Royall was an American travel writer, newspaper editor, and is often considered the first professional female journalist in the United States. Royall was born in 1769 in Baltimore, Maryland, she grew up in Pennsylvania's western frontier before her family moved south to western Virginia. At 16, Anne and her widowed mother became servants in the household of Major William Royall, a wealthy and educated American Revolution veteran who became her mentor and later, her husband in 1797. He introduced her to a vast array of literature and supported her education. After William's death in 1812, Anne faced a prolonged legal battle with his relatives over his estate, which left her nearly destitute. She turned to writing, traveling through Alabama and other states, documenting her observations in works like "Letters from Alabama" and "The Tennessean." Her sharp and detailed travelogues provided a vivid contrast to the more sentimental literature of the time, offering incisive portraits of American life and prominent individuals. Anne moved to Washington D.C. in 1824 to petition for a federal pension as a widow of a veteran. Her efforts included an apocryphal yet famous encounter with President John Quincy Adams, reputedly securing the first presidential interview granted to a woman. This encounter bolstered her public profile, and Adams subsequently supported her pension petition. During her travels, Anne continued to write extensively, producing "Sketches of History, Life, and Manners in the United States" in 1826. Royall's outspoken and often caustic commentary on social and political issues earned her both admirers and powerful enemies. Her fierce criticisms, particularly of Presbyterians, led to her arrest in 1829 on charges of being a public nuisance, for which she was fined but supported by local journalists. In 1831, Anne began publishing the newspaper "Paul Pry," later succeeded by "The Huntress." These publications exposed political corruption and fraud, showcasing her relentless pursuit of justice despite ongoing financial struggles and delivery issues imposed by postmasters. Royall's career spanned three decades, during which she fought for the causes she believed in, often hiring orphans to assist with her publications. She died at the age of 85 in 1854 and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery, leaving behind a great history in the world of journalism and advocacy.

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