A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Chandler, Mary
CHANDLER, MARY,
An English lady, who distinguished herself by her poetical talent, was born at Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, in 1689. Her father was a dissenting minister at Bath, whose circumstances made it necessary that she should be brought up to business, and she became a milliner.
She was observed from childhood to have a turn for poetry, often entertaining her companions with riddles in verse; and she was at that time of life, very fond of Herbert's poems. In her riper years she studied the best modern poets, and the ancient ones too as far as translations could assist her. Her poem upon the Bath was very popular, and she was particularly complimented for it by Pope, with whom she was acquainted. She had the misfortune to be deformed, which determined her to live single; though she had a sweet countenance, and was solicited to marry. She died September 11th., 1746, aged fifty-seven.