Further background reading
Mary Ann McCracken
Mary Ann McCracken (8 July 1770 – 26 July 1866) was a social reformer. She was born in Belfast, the sister of the Irish rebel Henry Joy McCracken, who was executed in Belfast following his role in the Battle of Antrim in June 1798.
Like her brother, Mary Ann held radical beliefs and these extended not just to the politics of the time, but to many social issues, such as poverty and slavery. Mary Ann led the Women's Abolitionary committee in Belfast during the height of the anti slavery movement, wearing the famous Wedgewood brooches adorned with slave and slogan "Am I not a man and brother", and continued to promote the cause long after the spirit of radicalism had died in Belfast. At the age of 88 she was to be seen in Belfast docks, handing out anti-slavery leaflets to those boarding ships bound for the United States, where slavery was still practised.
