Mary Pirie

Career Pirie was a botanist who wanted to inspire that love in others, both her works are aimed at encouraging people from all walks of life to be interested in nature. It includes her own poetry and illustrations. Her first book was published by James Blackwood & Co; the second by Lewis Smith. Nowadays, Pirie's books are available across the world with 7 copies of 'Flowers, Grasses and Shrubs with Anecdotes and Poetical Illustrations''' in North America and 3 copies in the United Kingdom according to OCLC records; including one in Pirie's native Scotland in the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

In later life she lived in Portsoy, where she ran a private school, on Old Cullen Street. She died in Portsoy on 8 February 1885. Her obituary described her as a "highly educated", as well as being active in the Dorcas Society of Portsoy and a member of St John the Baptist Episcopal Church Portsoy. 1864 - Familiar Teachings on Natural History: A Book for the Use of Schools and Families''