Mary Robinson was born on May 21, 1944 in Ballina, Ireland. She had four
brothers and both of her parents were doctors. Mary went to a convent boarding
school. Growing up Mary said, "Although I was the only girl I never had any
sense that I was different or there was a limit on what I might do or
achieve." She graduated from Dublin University and Trinity College and
became a lawyer. Later she went to Harvard University in Massachusetts. In 1969
she was elected to the Irish Senate. At the age of 25, Mary was appointed
Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law at Trinity College. She also
lectured about European community law. Mary married Nicholas Robinson in 1970
and has three children, Theresa, William and Aubrey. On December 3, 1990, Mary
Robinson was inaugurated as the seventh President of Ireland and its first woman
President. She resigned in 1997 to accept the job as United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights. She has that job today.
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