Mary Proctor (1862 – September 11,1957)  born in Dublin, Ireland was an astronomer, but not a professional astronomer. Proctor was the daughter of the astronomer Richard Proctor, who popularized astronomy with his lectures and writings. As she grew up, Mary Proctor often assisted her father in his work and in 1881 she assisted him in founding and producing a journal called, Knowledge. The family also immigrated to the United States in 1881 and settled in St. Joseph in 1882. From doing this, and after a well received appearance at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1883, she developed a career as an astronomy lecturer. Her book length debut, Stories of Starland (1898) was adopted by the New York Board of Education. She worked as an astronomy teacher in private schools while attending Columbia University.

Proctor authored many articles for newspapers, journals and published many popular books. She became well known for her children’s books which earned her the nickname  “the children’s astronomer.” Proctor also became an elected member of the British Astronomical Association in 1897 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1898. In 1916, she was elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The crater, Mary Proctor, on the moon was named after her. She is buried at Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph.