Martyr's parents were living in London when she was born in 1762. She came to notice in 1778 when she was singing songs by
James Hook in
Vauxhall Gardens. She was Hook's pupil and she sang there each summer until 1780. She moved to singing
Ballad opera and appeared in
Love in a Village at the
Covent Garden Theatre in 1779. She married Captain Martyr and they had a daughter. Her husband spent too much and died in 1783 - probably in Calais where he was escaping his debts. Martyr consoled herself with the prompter, James Wild, before establishing a lifelong partnership with the oboist
William Thomas Parke. They had two sons but they never married. Martyr's style is said to have come from her "notorious" mentor
Ann Catley. Thomas Bellamy wrote of Martyr in 1795 "Catley's pupil - Catley's boast, Sportive, playful, arch and free, Lovely MARTYR, hail to thee!" Before her sons were born she was earning ten pounds a week at the Covent Garden theatre where she appeared in "second woman" roles and in
Breeches roles. Martyr died on 7 June 1807 whilst still being paid by the Covent Garden theatre. She was buried in
St Martin in the Fields. ==Legacy==