July 14

Born in 1868 in Washington, England, Gertrude Bell studied history at Oxford University before embarking on extensive travels in the Middle East. She conducted archaeological excavations at sites such as Tell el-Amarna and developed expertise in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish cultures. During World War I, Bell served as a political officer working with T.E. Lawrence and British forces, helping to draw borders and establish governance structures in Mesopotamia. She played a key role in the creation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq and advised its first king. A prolific writer and mapmaker, Bell documented tribal dynamics and ancient monuments in detailed reports. Her legacy endures in both the academic and political landscapes of the region. She died in Baghdad in 1926.