Victorian London's Most Notorious Female Gang Leader

The Life of Mary Carr, Queen of the Forty

Emma Woodhouse

• Publisher: Pen and Sword History
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781036142216
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

Born into the shadows of Victorian London, Mary Carr began her criminal career as a pickpocketing flower-girl, rising to be the undisputed Queen of the Forty Thieves. Under her rule, the Forty transformed from a band of violent, disorganised thieves into a ruthless, well-oiled gang, making a fortune from hotel robberies and blackmail. By 1891, Mary ruled Southwark, Lambeth, and beyond, her power extending from seedy back alleys to high society establishments.

But Mary was more than just a criminal mastermind. A ‘swan-necked beauty’ and muse to esteemed artist Frederic Leighton, she navigated both the art world and the criminal underworld with ease. She was a revered gang boss and a beloved benefactor, caring for the families of imprisoned comrades and ruling with both generosity and iron discipline.

When a young boy, Michael McGee, vanished at the Epsom races, eyes on the street turned to Mary, who had recently adopted a young blonde-haired boy and had been showing him off to the world. But her defiance would prove her undoing. Betrayed by an informant, she was arrested for child theft in 1896, sentenced to three years in prison, and lost everything. How does a woman who loses her home, her title and her son all in one blow rise again?

Emma Woodhouse's compelling narrative unravels the legend of Mary Carr — a woman who defied Victorian expectations, reshaped London’s underworld, and became one of the most fascinating figures of her time.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: They say: Mary Carr lied about her age
• Chapter 2: They say: Mary Carr was the leader of a powerful and intimidating gang of all-female thieves called the Forty Elephants
• Chapter 3: They say: Mary Carr was a ‘swan-necked beauty’ who modelled for famous artists
• Chapter 4: They say: Mary Carr lied to the authorities about her personal information whenever she was arrested
• Chapter 5: They say: Mary Carr headed her gang of thieves in their exploits where they robbed high-end stores, wielding pistols and terrifying the masses
• Chapter 6: They say: Mary Carr was voted in to be the Queen of the Forty Thieves, elected by her adoring female-only followers to run their operation
• Chapter 7: They say: Mary Carr was romantically involved with a famous boxer
• Chapter 8: They say: Mary Carr and her gang were associated with horse racing and fixing race bets
• Chapter 9: They say: Mary Carr kidnapped a child at Epsom in 1895
• Chapter 10: They say: Mary Carr mistreated Michael McGee, and he was suffering from a terrible venereal disease when the police recovered him
• Chapter 11: They say: Mary Carr was pals with the infamous Florence Maybrick in prison
• Chapter 12: They say: Mary Carr left prison and returned to lead her loyal gang in daring shop robberies
• Chapter 13: They say: Mary Carr undertook a number of hotel robberies with her lover, an American, stealing items from foreign royalty and nobles in some of the most prestigious London hotels
• Chapter 14: They say: Mary Carr ceased being the Queen of the Forty Thieves in 1924
• Chapter 15: They say: Mary Carr trained younger members of her gang to pickpocket and shoplift by taking them to quieter places to practice
• Chapter 16: They say: Mary Carr died in 1924; Alice Diamond became the Queen of the Forty Elephants at this time and took over Mary’s gang
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Notes
• Index
• Plates