Annie Smith Peck (October 19, 1850 – July 18, 1935) was an American mountaineer, educator, and suffragist known for her achievements in climbing and her contributions to women’s rights. She was a trailblazer in the field of mountaineering during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Key points about Annie Smith Peck’s life and career include:

1. Early Life and Education: Annie Smith Peck was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She received her education at the University of Michigan and later earned a Ph.D. in Greek from the University of Leipzig in Germany.
2. Academic Career: Peck became a professor of Latin and Greek languages at Purdue University. She later taught at Smith College and the University of Michigan.
3. Mountaineering: Annie Smith Peck became passionate about mountaineering in her 40s. She climbed numerous peaks in the United States and Europe, including several in the Alps.
4. Notable Climbs: In 1895, at the age of 45, Peck made history by becoming the third woman to climb the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. She also climbed Mount Huascarán in Peru, reaching its summit in 1908 at the age of 58, setting a record as the highest anyone had climbed at that time.
5. Advocacy for Women’s Rights: Annie Smith Peck was an advocate for women’s rights and suffrage. She believed that physical accomplishments, such as mountaineering, could help break down gender stereotypes and advance the cause of women’s equality.
6. Author and Lecturer: Peck wrote extensively about her mountaineering experiences and views on women’s rights. She authored several books, including “The Search for the Apex of America: High Mountain Climbing in Peru and Bolivia” and “A Search for the Apex of America: High Mountain Climbing in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.”
7. Later Life: Annie Smith Peck continued to climb and explore into her 70s. She remained active in the suffrage movement and continued to lecture and write.
8. Legacy: Annie Smith Peck’s legacy is that of a pioneering woman in mountaineering and an advocate for women’s rights. Her achievements paved the way for future generations of female climbers, and her commitment to equality left a lasting impact.

Annie Smith Peck’s combination of academic achievements, mountaineering accomplishments, and advocacy for women’s rights makes her a notable figure in both the history of mountaineering and the women’s suffrage movement.