Susanna Watts

A Walk Through Leicester (Esprios Classics) Susanna Watts

Susanna Watts (1768-1842) was a noted English abolitionist, author, translator and artist. Watts took up writing in order to earn money to support herself and her mother. Her poetry was noted for its anti-slavery themes. Watts published a poem directed at William Wilberforce criticising his views on women working in the abolitionist movement. Despite Wilberforce's views, Watts and her friend Elizabeth Heyrick continued campaigning against slavery, including founding The Humming Bird, the first anti-slavery periodical. Heyrick and Watts would visit greengrocers and other businesses to encourage the owners to not purchase Caribbean sugar and other products produced by slave labour.