mary wollstonecraft (27 april 1759 – 10 september 1797) was a british writer. she was born in spitalfields, a daughter of a rich farmer who inherited his fortune. her father was known because he was sometimes violent towards her, her four siblings, and their mother when his farms failed. mary wollstonecraft was the second oldest child in her family. she was the oldest female child. she left home at the age of nineteen to work and become independent.