About Mary Quaile
Lived 1886 – 1958 (aged 72). Mary Quaile was a trade unionist.
Mary T. Quaile (8 August 1886 – 16 December 1958) was an Irish trade unionist.
Born in Dublin, Quaile grew up in Manchester, and left school at the age of twelve. Initially a domestic servant, she soon moved to work in a cafe. While there, Margaret Bondfield visited the city to organise workers. Inspired, Quaile began persuading catering workers in the city to join a union. As a result, in 1911, she was appointed as Assistant Organiser of the Manchester Women's Trade Union Council (WTUC), then later as its Organising Secretary.
In 1919, the WTUC became part of Manchester Trades Council, and Quaile became the National Woman Officer of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union, which later became part of the Transport and General Workers' Union. She was also active at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and served on the General Council of the TUC from 1923 to 1926. From 1923, Quaile was secretary of the Manchester Trades Council's Women's Section, and soon was also the council's treasurer.
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Important facts
People in Mary Quaile's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mary Quaile's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mary Quaile?
Irish trade unionist
When was Mary Quaile born?
Mary Quaile was born on 8 August 1886.
When did Mary Quaile die?
Mary Quaile died on 16 December 1958.
What was Mary Quaile's occupation?
Mary Quaile was a trade unionist.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mary Quaile. https://biography.guide/mary-quaile/
MLA: "Mary Quaile." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mary-quaile/.
Chicago: "Mary Quaile." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mary-quaile/.
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