Mary Chudleigh

Biography

(1656-1710)

Another of the great 17th century female writers, Lady Mary Chudleigh was, like many of her contemporary women writers, a feminist in the purest sense. She supported the rights and independence of women, and stood as a model of feminine intellectualism. She even wrote a lyric essay called "The Ladies' Defence" (1701), in response to a particularly chauvinistic sermon on the servile role of women. She also published Poems on Several Occasions (1703), and Essays Upon Several Subjects (1710). She was married to Sir George Chudleigh of Ashton and together they had one daughter, though little more than this is known of her personal life.

(Compiled by Joey Franklin)

See also

Essays by Mary Chudleigh

Of Death

The fear of death is the occasional cause of the greatest part of...mean dishonorable actions.
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Essays