She was born in New York City, New York on April 28, 1839 the daughter of Charles King (academic) an American academic, politician, newspaper editor and the ninth president of Columbia College now Columbia University and his second wife, Henrietta Liston Low.
Early life and ancestors She was also the granddaughter of Senator Rufus King, who was one of the List of signatories of the United States Constitution Marriage and family Mary was the author of two well-known books, Letter of a Diplomat"s wife (1902) and Italian letters of a Diplomat"s wife (1904).
