Princess Maria of Hesse was born on April 12, 1874, in Darmstadt, Germany. She was the daughter of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, making her a member of both the Hesse and British royal families. Maria married Prince Henry of Battenberg in 1895 and had three children. Throughout her life, she was involved in various charitable activities and supported her family's interests in the arts and education. She passed away on November 16, 1940, in London, England.