Mary Wilson, Lady Wilson of Rievaulx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lady Wilson of Rievaulx
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Mary Wilson in 1970
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| Born |
Gladys Mary Baldwin
12 January 1916 Diss, England
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| Died | 6 June 2018 (aged 102) London, England
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| Resting place | St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly |
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| Known for | Former spouse of the prime minister of the United Kingdom (1964–1970, 1974–1976) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Robin |
Gladys Mary Wilson, Baroness Wilson of Rievaulx (born Baldwin; 12 January 1916 – 6 June 2018) was an English poet. She was best known as the wife of Harold Wilson, who was the British prime minister two times. Mary Wilson was the first wife of a British prime minister to live to be over 100 years old. She lived to be 102 years old.
Her Early Life
Mary Wilson was born in Diss, Norfolk, England. Her father, Daniel Baldwin, was a minister in a church. She went to a boarding school called Milton Mount College. When she was 16, she left school and took a two-year course to learn secretarial skills.
After her course, she worked as a stenographer at a company called Lever Brothers. A stenographer is someone who takes notes very quickly, often using shorthand.
Marriage and Family
On New Year's Day in 1940, she married Harold Wilson in Oxford. Harold Wilson later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Mary and Harold had two sons. Their names were Robin (born in 1943) and Giles (born in 1948).
Life in the Public Eye
Mary Wilson was a talented poet. In 1970, she published a book of her poems called Selected Poems. In 1976, she was one of the judges for the Booker Prize. This is a very important award for books.
Even though her husband was a famous politician, Mary Wilson did not always enjoy political life. She preferred a quieter life. This feeling of not always being happy with politics was even made fun of in a funny magazine column called "Mrs Wilson's Diary".
Mary Wilson also had her own strong political views. For example, in 1975, there was a vote about whether the UK should stay in the European Community. She voted against staying, even though her husband supported it. She also supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. This group wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons.
Later Years and Death
Mary Wilson's husband, Harold, passed away on 24 May 1995. They had been married for 55 years. After he died, she continued to live in Westminster, which is close to where the Prime Minister lives. She also kept their holiday home in the Isles of Scilly.
In 2013, when she was 97 years old, she went to the funeral of another former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
Lady Wilson died on 6 June 2018, in London. She was 102 years old when she passed away from a stroke. She lived 23 years longer than her husband. She was the longest-living wife of a British prime minister. She was also the first one to live past the age of 100. After a private service, her ashes were buried with her husband in the churchyard in St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.
