Mary Ann Mercer

Mary Ann Mercer (1883 – 26 September 1945) was a British politician, who served as the first woman and first Labour Party Mayor of Birkenhead.

Personal life Born in Newport, Shropshire, her father died when she was three. Despite her limited schooling, Mercer worked as a housekeeper, trained as a nurse and then worked in Belfast as a district visitor. While there, she met and married a Labour Party activist and journalist in 1912. In 1914 they moved to the Wirral and had a family. She died in 1945 and is buried in Flaybrick cemetery, Birkenhead.

Political life Mercer became active in the Labour Party (UK) when she moved to the Wirral.

Mercer was elected to Birkenhead Town Council in 1919, representing Argyle ward. While in office, she unveiled Birkenhead War Memorial. She moved to become the town's first woman alderman in 1926, serving until 1932, when she returned to representing Argyle until 1945.

Mercer also served as a magistrate from 1929.