July 8th, 1770
Mary Ann McCracken (8 July 1770 – 26 July 1866) was a social activist and campaigner in Belfast, Ireland, whose extensive correspondence is cited as an important chronicle of her times.
Born to a prominent liberal Presbyterian family, she combined entrepreneurship in Belfast’s growing textile industry with support for the democratic program of the United Irishmen; advocacy for women; the organising of relief and education for the poor; and, in a town that was heavily engaged in trans-Atlantic trade, a lifelong commitment to the abolition of slavery.
In 2021, Belfast City Council agreed to erect a statue of Mary Ann McCracken in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. The statue was unveiled on 8 July 2024.
