Mary Collier

Mary Collier (c.1688–1762) was an English poet and labourer. Born in Midhurst, West Sussex to poor parents, she was educated at home, and went on to become a washerwoman, brewer and manual labourer. She is best known today for her stinging riposte to Stephen Duck’s portrayal of working-class women in his The Thresher’s Labour, which she had published herself as The Woman’s Labour.