Mary Leapor (1722–1746) was an English poet, born in Marston St. Lawrence, Northamptonshire, the only child of Anne Sharman (died 1741) and Philip Leapor (1693–1771), a gardener. She is notable for being one of the most critically well-received of the numerous labouring-class writers of the period.
Partly self-educated, she probably received a rudimentary education at either a local Dame school, or at the local free school in Brackley on the sout...
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Mary Leapor (1722–1746) was an English poet, born in Marston St. Lawrence, Northamptonshire, the only child of Anne Sharman (died 1741) and Philip Leapor (1693–1771), a gardener. She is notable for being one of the most critically well-received of the numerous labouring-class writers of the period.
Partly self-educated, she probably received a rudimentary education at either a local Dame school, or at the local free school in Brackley on the south side of the Chapel. According to her father she began writing "tolerably" at the age of 10. Her father recollected "She would often be scribbling, and sometimes in Rhyme", but that her mother ended up discouraging the writing, requesting she find some "more profitable employment". She was fortunate enough to attain a position as kitchen maid with an employer, Susanna Jennens ("Parthenissa" in Leapor's poetry), who apparently encouraged her writing and allowed her the use of her library. Jennens wrote poetry herself and had connections to...
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