First Woman To Travel Around The World In 80 Days
Nellie Bly was a trailblazing journalist and adventurer who achieved incredible feats in her lifetime. Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in 1864 in Pennsylvania, she adopted the pen name "Nellie Bly" when she began her career in journalism in the 1880s. She quickly gained recognition for her hard-hitting investigative reporting and fearless approach to her work, and became known for her coverage of social issues and political corruption.
From Local Journalist to International Traveler
In 1888, Bly pitched an ambitious idea to her editor at the New York World: she would attempt to travel around the world in less than 80 days, a feat inspired by Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days. The editor agreed, and Bly set out on her journey just six days later, armed with only a small bag and a couple changes of clothes.
Over the course of her journey, Bly traveled primarily by boat and train, and stopped in locations including England, Egypt, Singapore, and Japan. She documented her experiences in a series of dispatches that were published in the New York World, and her dispatches quickly became must-reads for readers around the world.
A Record-Breaking Journey
Despite facing numerous challenges along the way – including a typhoon, a train breakdown, and a customs inspection – Bly completed her journey in just 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes, setting a new world record for the fastest trip around the world by a person. She returned to a hero's welcome in the United States, and her achievement earned her international acclaim and cemented her place in history.
A Legacy of Trailblazing Journalism
Bly continued her career in journalism after her world travels, and became known for her coverage of a wide range of issues including women's rights, labor rights, and mental health care. She famously went undercover in an asylum to expose the terrible conditions faced by patients, and her reporting helped to spur reforms in the treatment of mental health.
Bly's legacy as a pioneering journalist and adventurer has inspired countless individuals, and continues to this day to be celebrated as an example of what is possible when one sets their mind to achieving great things.
