Elizabeth Sharaf un-Nisa

Elizabeth Sharaf un-Nisa Ducarel (1758–1822) born as Sharaf un-Nisa or simply known as Elizabeth Ducarel, was a Mughal noblewoman from Purnea in Bihar, India who later moved to England with her husband, Gerard Ducarel, a member of a gentry family and an official of the British East India Company, in the late 18th century.

The study of her life is significant as it is one of the early examples of a foreign-born woman assimilating into British society.

Life

Early life She was born in or around the town of Purnea into a land-owning or noble family that came into contact with the British East India Company. At some point in the 18th century, at the age of 12, she began living with Gerard Gustavus Ducarel who was appointed as the first district supervisor for Purnea. The Ducarel family themselves claimed that Elizabeth was the daughter of a "Maharaja in Purnea" and also described her as "Persian Princess". Elizabeth is recorded as having three brothers, Daim Beg, Mirza Alim Beg and Qaim Beg.

While living in England, Elizabeth continued to receive letters from her brothers, requesting she advise her husband to arrange salaried positions for them or advocate on their behalf with local British administrators so that they could trade in Purnea, Azimabad and Burdwan.