Mary King (merchant)

Mary King († September 1644 ) was a successful businesswoman in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 17th century. According to her, the local street Mary King's Close is named.

She was probably born in the late 16th century. 1616 she married the merchant Thomas Nemo ( Thomas Nimmo ). The couple had four children: Alexander, Euphame, Jonet and William. Thomas died in 1629. Then Mary moved with her five to twelve year old children in the then known as King's Close and Alexander King's Close alley.

Presumably they benefited from the name similarity with the prestigious in the city attorney Alexander King, with whom she was not related, however. Until her death in September 1644, she had earned a considerable fortune.