Mary Margaret Theodora MacDonald was the daughter of Sir. John A. MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, and his second wife Susan Agnes Bernard.
She was born with Hydrocephalus which prevented her from walking and from the proper use of her hands. Her speech was difficult to understand, but she was able to learn and comprehend. She was loved and nurtured by her parents, and contrary to the general practice of public figures at the time, she was not hidden away from the public.
Her father gave her the loving pet name of Baboo, which only he used.
Mary's father purchased a typewriter for her, which she learned to use, typing with her left index finger and two middle fingers of her right hand. She and her father communicated often over the years through letters.
After the death of her father, Mary aged 22, and her mother moved around a bit, finally immigrating to England in 1893. They settled in a house in Sydenham in southeast London. Mary loved life in London. She enjoyed outings in Hyde Park, the museum, the aquarium, the Crystal Palace and most of all the theatre. Mary and her mother would spend the winters in Alassio, Italy.
Mary was 51 years old when her mother died, She lived with her companion Sarah Coward, and when Sarah married, Mary continued to live with her and her husband.
Mary, having spent her entire life in a wheel chair, reached a remarkable age for a person living with Hydrocephalus from birth.
She was born with Hydrocephalus which prevented her from walking and from the proper use of her hands. Her speech was difficult to understand, but she was able to learn and comprehend. She was loved and nurtured by her parents, and contrary to the general practice of public figures at the time, she was not hidden away from the public.
Her father gave her the loving pet name of Baboo, which only he used.
Mary's father purchased a typewriter for her, which she learned to use, typing with her left index finger and two middle fingers of her right hand. She and her father communicated often over the years through letters.
After the death of her father, Mary aged 22, and her mother moved around a bit, finally immigrating to England in 1893. They settled in a house in Sydenham in southeast London. Mary loved life in London. She enjoyed outings in Hyde Park, the museum, the aquarium, the Crystal Palace and most of all the theatre. Mary and her mother would spend the winters in Alassio, Italy.
Mary was 51 years old when her mother died, She lived with her companion Sarah Coward, and when Sarah married, Mary continued to live with her and her husband.
Mary, having spent her entire life in a wheel chair, reached a remarkable age for a person living with Hydrocephalus from birth.
Mary Margaret Theodora MacDonald was the daughter of Sir. John A. MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, and his second wife Susan Agnes Bernard.
She was born with Hydrocephalus which prevented her from walking and from the proper use of her hands. Her speech was difficult to understand, but she was able to learn and comprehend. She was loved and nurtured by her parents, and contrary to the general practice of public figures at the time, she was not hidden away from the public.
Her father gave her the loving pet name of Baboo, which only he used.
Mary's father purchased a typewriter for her, which she learned to use, typing with her left index finger and two middle fingers of her right hand. She and her father communicated often over the years through letters.
After the death of her father, Mary aged 22, and her mother moved around a bit, finally immigrating to England in 1893. They settled in a house in Sydenham in southeast London. Mary loved life in London. She enjoyed outings in Hyde Park, the museum, the aquarium, the Crystal Palace and most of all the theatre. Mary and her mother would spend the winters in Alassio, Italy.
Mary was 51 years old when her mother died, She lived with her companion Sarah Coward, and when Sarah married, Mary continued to live with her and her husband.
Mary, having spent her entire life in a wheel chair, reached a remarkable age for a person living with Hydrocephalus from birth.
She was born with Hydrocephalus which prevented her from walking and from the proper use of her hands. Her speech was difficult to understand, but she was able to learn and comprehend. She was loved and nurtured by her parents, and contrary to the general practice of public figures at the time, she was not hidden away from the public.
Her father gave her the loving pet name of Baboo, which only he used.
Mary's father purchased a typewriter for her, which she learned to use, typing with her left index finger and two middle fingers of her right hand. She and her father communicated often over the years through letters.
After the death of her father, Mary aged 22, and her mother moved around a bit, finally immigrating to England in 1893. They settled in a house in Sydenham in southeast London. Mary loved life in London. She enjoyed outings in Hyde Park, the museum, the aquarium, the Crystal Palace and most of all the theatre. Mary and her mother would spend the winters in Alassio, Italy.
Mary was 51 years old when her mother died, She lived with her companion Sarah Coward, and when Sarah married, Mary continued to live with her and her husband.
Mary, having spent her entire life in a wheel chair, reached a remarkable age for a person living with Hydrocephalus from birth.
Inscription
In
Loving Memory
of
Mary Theodora Margaret Macdonald
Only Daughter of Sir John A. Macdonald
Prime Minister of Canada
And of the Baroness Macdonald
of Earnscliffe
Born Feb. 8, 1869. Died Jan. 28 1933.
"Blessed are the pure of heart."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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