Born Hester Mulso, Chapone became a significant figure in Elizabeth Montague's eighteenth-century bluestocking circle. Her Letters on the Improvement of the Mind (1773) proposed a rigorous course of self education for women.

English dramatist, poet, and translator. Chapman's translations of Homer remained the standard for centuries.

A clergyman and literary critic, Channing was friend to a number of important literary figures of the American Renaissance.

Apothecary and translator of Arabic medical treatises.

English physician, dramatist, and poet, who fought on the Royalist side at the Battle of Newberry.

Lesser-known English poet whose work has been compared to that of William Chamberlayne. Chalkhill authored two poems in Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler and a pastoral poem, Thealma and Clearchus, published posthumously by Walton.

Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His most famous work, Don Quixote (1605-15), a picaresque tale of chivalric literary influences gone wrong, is one of the great landmarks in the history of fiction.

English poet, playwright, and actress, born Susanna Freeman and also known professionally as Susanna Carroll. Centlivre was considered among the most influential female playwrights of her time, alongside Aphra Behn, with some of her plays being performed for over two centuries. Centlivre was married thrice—her first husband, supposedly Sir Stephen Fox, died less than a year after the couple wed. Centlivre's early biographers claim that she then married an army officer by the name of Carroll who died in a duel a year and a half into their marriage.

Daughter of Count Francesco Cenci, who abused his wife and raped Beatrice numerous times. After unsuccessfully reporting him to authorities, Beatrice, her stepmother, and her brothers murdered the Count. They were tortured and executed, becoming a legend of resistance to tyranny.

Living in the third century C.E., the legendary St. Cecilia was among the most revered of the Roman virgin martyrs and the patron saint of music and musicians. Her feast day is celebrated on November 22nd.