Teleki, Blanka (1806–1862)

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Teleki, Blanka (1806–1862)

Hungarian countess and education reformer. Born July 3, 1806, at Kövarhosszufalu, Hungary; died Oct 23, 1862, in Paris; dau. of Count Imre Teleki (1782–1848) and Karolina Brunswick (1782–1843); studied arts in Munich and Paris.

Known as the Revolutionary Countess, was a pioneer in women's education; founded the 1st secondary girls' school in Hungary (1846), in Pest; after Hungarian revolution against the Habsburgs (1848–49), was imprisoned for 5 years for hiding refugees (1853–57). Painting Blanka Teleki in Prison rendered by Viktor Madarasz (1867).