Mary Harris Jones

Date of Birth: May 1, 1837

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: November 30, 1930

Biography

Mary Harris Jones, also known as “Mother Jones,” was a prominent labor and community organizer in the United States. Born in Cork, Ireland, she emigrated to North America with her family due to the Great Famine. She became one of the most famous labor activists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her tireless work in advocating for workers’ rights, particularly in the coal mining industry. After losing her husband and four children to yellow fever and later her home in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, she dedicated her life to the labor movement. Jones was instrumental in organizing strikes and was a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Her passionate speeches and relentless activism earned her the affectionate title “Mother” from the working-class communities she served.

5 Interesting Facts about Mary Harris Jones

1. Mary Harris Jones was called the “most dangerous woman in America” by a U.S. district attorney because of her success in organizing mine workers and their families against mine owners.

2. She played a significant role in the founding of the Social Democratic Party and later the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

3. Mother Jones was deeply involved in the 1903 “March of the Mill Children,” which brought national attention to child labor conditions.

4. She was arrested multiple times for her activism, most notably in 1913 when she was imprisoned for her role in the West Virginia coal wars.

5. Her autobiography, “The Autobiography of Mother Jones,” published in 1925, remains a significant work in labor history.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Harris Jones

1. “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”

2. “I’m not a humanitarian, I’m a hell-raiser.”

3. “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.”

4. “I am not afraid of the pen, or the scaffold, or the sword. I will tell the truth wherever I please.”

5. “My address is like my shoes. It travels with me.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mary Harris Jones did not accumulate personal wealth through her activism. Her highest net worth is not documented, as her life’s work was centered around improving conditions for workers rather than personal financial gain.