Were there any famous or notable knocker-uppers in history?

Yes, there were several famous knocker-uppers in history, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most well-known was Mary Smith, a British knocker-upper who worked in the industrial town of East London. She became famous for her reliability and punctuality, and was even featured in a newspaper article in 1907. Other notable knocker-uppers include Jack the Knocker, Anne Levy, and Mary Hatwell.