Mary Frances Clarke

Mary Frances Clarke BVM
Born	Dublin, Ireland
Baptised	15 December 1802
Died	4 December 1887(1887-12-04) (aged 84) Dubuque, Iowa, United States
Nationality	Irish
Occupation(s)	Educator, sister of charity
Years active	1828–1887
Known for	Founding the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Clarke University

Mary Frances Clarke, B.V.M. (c. 15 December 1802 – 4 December 1887) was an Irish nun who founded the Catholic order of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Initially started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to provide educational opportunities for immigrants' children, the order relocated in the 1840s to Dubuque, Iowa, and established prairie schools across the high plains. One of those initial schools later became Clarke University. She was posthumously inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.