Ishbel Maria was the daughter of Lord Tweedmouth and born on March 15, 1857 at London, England. She was married to the seventh earl of Aberdeen, Scotland also acknowledged as John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon in the year 1877, hence she became known as Lady Aberdeen. Lady Aberdeen and her husband wrote a book entitled "We Twa: Reminiscences of Lord and Lady Aberdeen", it was based on their life. She was an adjunction of her husband to Ireland when he was appointed Lord Lieutenant. Then in 1893 her husband was allotted the Governor General of Canada consequently Lady Aberdeen moved to Canada with him. Lady Aberdeen had been the marchioness of Aberdeen and was a robust supporter of public improvement. Therefore she took advantage of being a wife of the governor general to help the people in need from 1893 to 1898.

Thus, in 1893 Lady Aberdeen originated the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC). The National Council of Women of Canada was a group of neutral voluntary women organizations and an advocate association member of the International Council of Women. Lady Aberdeen was the president of the International Council of Women for approximately 40 years.

In 1998 she also founded the May Courts of Canada.

But all things have to come to an end. Lady Aberdeen died of old age on April 18, 1939 in Aberdeen. The Lady Aberdeen Bridge in Gatineau, Quebec was named in her honor of a great lady who sought after the improvement of mankind.