.Mary was born in Skye and lived through the Highland Clearances. Known as Màiri Mhór nan Orain (Big Mary of the Songs), most of her beautiful songs are the subject of, or the background to, land reform in the Highlands and Islands. She is credited with being one of the major influences that led to the formation of the Napier Commission in 1884 which resulted in the crofters gaining rights that had previously been denied them.