Mary Baptist Russell, RSM (18 April 1829– 6 August 1898) was a Mercy Sister, nurse, philanthropist, and educator.

She was inspired by the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Kinsale who had taken up a mission of famine relief.

Russell joined them by entering the convent on 24 November 1848, and on 2 August 1851 she had completed her profession.

Their first attempt at working as nurses was turned down until there was an outbreak of cholera which came in September that year believed to have arrived on the ship Uncle Sam.

Later Russell raised money to create a hospital on Rincon Hill which opened in 1861.

[1][2] Russell also arranged for the creation of a shelter for unemployed women in 1855, an asylum in 1861 and a home for the aged in 1872.