Personal Life
Born in Scotland into a well-off middle class family, Mary was one of the "new breed" of educated young women, who put their commitment to improving the lives of others before the desire for personal happiness. Mary married Will Anderson when she was thirty, having made him wait for eight years.
Angel of the workers
Mary was a champion of the workers. She devoted most of her adult life to campaigning for better conditions. Many claimed that she "did more for the organisation of working women than any other woman in the country."
Legacy
Many of the employment rights we have today have their roots in the actions of Mary and her contemporaries. There still exists today a Mary Macarthur Educational Trust, which provides funds for women aged over 20, whose early education was limited, and although the Mary Macarthur holiday homes for working women closed in the 1980s, a Trust continues to provide financial support for women, who would not otherwise be able to take a holiday.