Margaret Mercer, Humanitarian

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23582529

Margaret Mercer was a truly remarkable person. She was born July 1, 1791, at Cedar Park, Maryland to John Francis Mercer (a Maryland governor) and Sophia Sprigg. She died September 17, 1846,

Mercer opened several academies for women and taught mathematics and sciences, astronomy, the natural sciences, philosophy, and religion. My research shows that Mercer also studied agriculture, religion and public health and she was fluent in five languages.

Mercer purchased the Belmont Plantation (VA) in 1836 in order to create a progressive Christian-Episcopalian school for women. In addition to the school she had the first Belmont Chapel built in 1841, using profits from a collective farm and the proceeds of craft sales by the pupils of her school.

Mercer helped reduce the number of deaths and illnesses on the local plantations from poor sanitary practices by teaching them ways to improve their well designs and by educating them in the latest agricultural techniques.

Mercer opposed slavery and saw that all black persons in her employ (or working on her own and neighboring lands as sharecroppers) were taught to read and write and were welcomed at worship services at the plantation.

She also contributed to several similar projects involving the Liberian experiment. A ship, built for the purpose of transporting black American settlers to Liberia, was named the Margaret Mercer in her honor as was the Mercer School in Monrovia.

Mercer died, most probably of tuberculosis, in 1846. She was mourned throughout the nation, but nowhere more than at her beloved Belmont. Soon after her death, her students erected stone plinth monument to her memory in front of the Chapel.

Additional information about the life and contributions of Margaret Mercer can be found on the web. My review of Mercer's background shows that she was a person with great strength, perseverance and, conviction. She gave her life to educating and helping people without prejudice. (Biography courtesy of Margy)