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Mary Jeff

1873 – 1946

Scottish activist and politician who was involved in the Glasgow rent strike

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About Mary Jeff

Lived 1873 – 1946 (aged 72–73). Mary Jeff was a politician.

Mary Jeff (1873–1941) was a Scottish activist and politician who was involved in the Glasgow rent strike.

Early life and education Mary Jeff was born Mary Russell Watson in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire in 1873. She moved to Govan in 1896, and lived there with her husband, printer Andrew Jeff, and their three sons.

Community Activism and Political career Mary and her husband were active in their community. They both had a key role in the Govan rent strike, Andrew as chair of the South Govan Tenants Committee, and Mary as part of the group of women who campaigned against eviction, and orchestrated the defence against bailiffs. Other women involved in this activity were Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan, Mary Laird and Helen Crawfurd.

She was elected to Govan Parish Council in 1919, and served until at least 1926, on both the Children's Committee and the Relief Committee.

In later years, she moved to Milngavie, where she was a member of Milngavie Bowling Club and an active member of the Deacon's court of St Luke's Church of Scotland.

She died in 1941 in Milngavie, and was buried in Old Monkland Cemetery.

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Important facts

Born
1873, Glasgow
Birth century
Died
1946, Milngavie
Occupation

People in Mary Jeff's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mary Jeff's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mary Jeff?

Scottish activist and politician who was involved in the Glasgow rent strike

When was Mary Jeff born?

Mary Jeff was born in 1873 in Glasgow.

When did Mary Jeff die?

Mary Jeff died in 1946 in Milngavie.

What was Mary Jeff's occupation?

Mary Jeff was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mary Jeff

· Wikidata: Q60894226

· DBpedia: Mary Jeff

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mary Jeff. https://biography.guide/mary-jeff/

MLA: "Mary Jeff." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mary-jeff/.

Chicago: "Mary Jeff." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mary-jeff/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-24 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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