Stephen Duck
Stephen Duck (1705-1756) was born at Charlton near Wiltshire in England into a poor family. He attended a charity school until the age of fourteen. It was at this time that he was taking out of school by his mother to work on their farm. Duck was interested in learning, and although he didn’t have much time and money, he began to purchase books which he studied at night. He read books on arithmetic and favored the works of Milton and Dryden. After meeting Dr. Alured Clarke of Winchester Cathedral, Duck’s literary career began to evolve. His popularity spread to Queen Caroline, and he tended to her library in Richmond . His life didn't end happily however, as he suffered from depression and took his own life by drowning himself in a stream (Stephen).
Ann Yearsley
Ann Yearsley (1753-1806) was a poor milkmaid who became a successful working class writer. She received no formal education, and was taught to read and write by family members. In 1774 she married John Yearsley, a poor yeoman. Although she was both a wife and a mother, Yearsley managed to find time to practice her reading and writing skills. In 1784 the family experienced hardship and they had to rely on the charity of people from their community. Hannah More, one of the charitable individuals, discovered Yearsley’s writing abilities and helped her to become published. The two parted ways after quarrels concerning the money earned from her writing. After a profitable career as a poet, she died in 1806 in Melksham, Wiltshire (Waldron).
Mary Leapor
Mary Leapor (1722-1746) was born at Marston St Lawrence, Northamptonshire. She was the only child of Philip Leapor, a gardener, and his wife Anne Sharman. Little is know about her education, but it is likely that she attended a free school in Brackly, the town where her father worked. She was mostly self-educated and much to the dismay of her parents, she spent much of her free time reading and writing. In her early teens Leapor acquired a job as a kitchen maid. Her employer Susanna Jennens encouraged Leapor’s writing abilities and allowed her the use of her library. She later met Bridget Freemantle, the daughter of a former rector and the two became friends. Freemantle suggested that Leapor publish some of her peoms and continued to see Leapor’s work published after her death. Mary Leapor died of the measles at the young age of twenty-four (Gillespie).
