Marjorie Gwynne Drexel (née Gould (September 11, 1891 – November 29, 1955) was an American heiress and socialite.
Marjorie Drexel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Marjorie Gwynne Gould September 11, 1891 |
| Died | November 29, 1955 (aged 64) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | George Jay Gould I Edith Kingdon |
| Relatives | Jay Gould (grandfather) |
Early life edit
Marjorie was born in Manhattan on September 11, 1891. She was the eldest daughter of seven children born to millionaire George Jay Gould I (1864–1923) and actress Edith Kingdon Gould (1864–1921).[1][2] Among her siblings were Kingdon Gould Sr., Jay Gould II, Helen Vivien Gould (wife of John Beresford, 5th Baron Decies), George Jay Gould II, Edith Catherine Gould (later Lady MacNeal), and Gloria Gould (wife of Henry A. Bishop II and Wallace McFarlane Barker).[3]
Her father was the eldest son of the former Helen Day Miller and Jay Gould, a leading American railroad developer and speculator who has been referred to as one of the ruthless robber barons of the Gilded Age, whose success at business made him one of the richest men of his era.[4] Her aunt, Anna Gould, was married to two European aristocrats, Boni de Castellane (the elder son and heir apparent of the Marquis of Castellane) and Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord, Duke of Sagan (Boni's cousin).[5]
Marjorie grew up in her parents' home in Lakewood, New Jersey, where she was educated "under the superintendence of her mother, who with the help of governesses, directed her daughter's training in a way to fit her best for her position in life."[6] She traveled extensively, both in the United States and in Europe and spoke three languages.[6]
Personal life edit
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In 1910, Marjorie was married to Anthony Joseph Drexel III, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City before 3,000 invited guests. Drexel, who was educated at Eton in England, was a son of Anthony Joseph Drexel, Jr. and a grandson of Anthony Joseph Drexel.[7][8] While in New York City, they resided at 1015 Fifth Avenue.[9] They also owned a home in Lakewood, New Jersey, and Caprice, a home in the Cable Beach community near Nassau, Bahamas.[10][11] Together, they were the parents of:
- Edith Kingdon Drexel (1911–1934), who married Henry Sergeant Cram (1907–1997), son of John Sergeant Cram and Edith Claire Bryce, in 1931.[12] After her early death, Cram married Ruth Vaux, a granddaughter of Richard Vaux.[13]
- Anthony Joseph Drexel IV (1912–1948),[14] who married Helen Avis Howard (1911–1974), a daughter of Dr. Clinton Chappell Howard who became a prominent character in the John Berendt non-fiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.[15]
- Marjorie Gould Drexel (1916–1947), who married John Murton Gundry Jr. (1896–1961) in 1935.[10][16][17][18] They divorced in 1945 and she married Axel Julius Danielson (1897–1961) in 1946.
In 1911, her sister Vivien, married John Beresford, 5th Baron Decies. Marjorie's husband took part in a boxing match with the bridegroom's brother, Seton Beresford, which "aroused considerable comment."[19] Following Viven's death in 1931, Lord Decies married her husband's elder cousin, Elizabeth Wharton Drexel, the daughter of Joseph William Drexel, and widow of both John Vinton Dahlgren and New York society leader Harry Lehr.[20]
Marjorie was a member of the Regency Club, the Junior League and the Garden Club at Shelter Island where she had a summer home.[21]
Her husband died of a heart attack at their home in Boca Grande on February 25, 1946.[19] Marjorie Drexel, a 64 year old widow, died on November 29, 1955, at 1115 Fifth Avenue, her residence in Manhattan. She outlived her husband and all three of her children.[21]
Descendants edit
Through his daughter Edith, he was a grandfather of John Sergeant Cram III (1932–2007), who married Lady Jeanne Campbell, the only daughter of Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll.[22] She had previously been married to American writer Norman Mailer. Lady Jeanne and John had a daughter, Cusi Cram (b. 1967), an actress, a Herrick-prize-winning playwright, and an Emmy-nominated writer for the children's animated television program, Arthur.[23][24]
References edit
- ^ Times, Special To The New York (May 29, 1920). "WAINWRIGHTS WED IN SECRET FOR 'THRIFT'; 'Avoided Needless Expense,' Says Art Student, with His Bride, Edith Gould, at Atlantic City". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "MRS. CARL F. WOLFF". The New York Times. March 14, 1960. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "The Goulds Are Going". Time. March 23, 1925. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
Of the seven older children by his first marriage — Kingdon, Jay, George Jay Jr., Marjorie, Vivien, Edith, Gloria — three eloped, one married an English nobleman, and one the daughter of a Hawaiian princess.
- ^ Maury Klein (1997). The Life and Legend of Jay Gould. p. 393. ISBN 9780801857713.
- ^ Foreman, John (3 March 2021). "Big Old Houses: In a Very Different World". New York Social Diary. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b The Historical Journal of the More Family. John More Association. 1892. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "MARJORIE GOULD TO WED A.J. DREXEL, JR.; Engagement of George Jay Gould's Eldest Daughters is Announced at a Dance". The New York Times. 19 January 1910. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Marjorie Gould to Wed A.J. Drexel, Jr. Engagement of George Jay Gould's Eldest Daughters is Announced at a Dance". The New York Times. January 19, 1910. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- ^ "Mrs. A.J. Drexel, Jr., Operated On". The New York Times. 19 December 1918. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ a b TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (24 December 1933). "Marjorie Gould Drexel Is Rescued in Forest After Becoming Lost Near Bahamas Home". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "ANTHONY J. DREXELS HOSTS AT NASSAU; Entertain for Governor and Lady Clifford-The Charles Moons Have Yachting Party". The New York Times. 22 March 1937. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ World, Photo By Wide (6 May 1931). "EDITH DREXEL WEDS H. SERGEANT CRAM; Members of Two Prominent Families Married in St Bartholomew's. SOCIETY FILLS THE EDIFICE Floral Decorations Elaborate--Bride Has Nine Attendants--Many Philadelphians Present". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Times, Special To The New York (8 October 1936). "HENRY CRAM TO WED; MISS RUTH VAUX Son of Mrs. J. Sergeant Cram of New York Is Affianced to Philadelphia Girl". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ "A.J. DREXEL 3D DIES IN PISTOL ACCIDENT; Member of Banking Family Is Killed in Carolina Showing German Souvenir to Guest". The New York Times. 16 January 1948. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "HELEN A. HOWARD ENGAGED TO MARRY; Is to Be Bride of Anthony J. Drexel 3d of Philadelphia Banking Family". The New York Times. 16 August 1933. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "MARJORIE DREXEL BRIDE IN BAHAMAS; Member of Philadelphia Family Wed to John M. Gundry Jr. of Cleveland". The New York Times. 21 February 1935. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (4 December 1939). "SUES MARJORIE DREXEL; Woman Says Present Mrs. J. M. Gundry Jr. Stole Mate's Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "LOSES ALIENATION SUIT; Mrs. Gundry, Great-Granddaughter of Gould, Faces Judgment". The New York Times. 1 April 1943. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ a b "A.J. DREXEL DEAD; RETIRED BROKER, 58; Great-Grandson of Founder of Philadelphia Banking House Prominent as Sportsman". The New York Times. 26 February 1946. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (12 May 1936). "DECIES TO MARRY MRS. HARRY LEHR; Widow of New York Leader of Society to Become Bride of Irish Peer on May 23. ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARIS Bride-Elect Member of Drexel Family -- Wrote Book, 'King Lehr and Gilded Age.'". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Mrs. A. J. Drexel Jr. Dies at Home Here". The New York Times. 30 November 1955. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Princeton Alumni Weekly. Princeton Alumni Weekly. 1964. p. 149. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ IMDb
- ^ Small, Michael (August 3, 1981). "At 13, Cusi Cram Doesn't Kid Around; Already a Cover Girl, Now She's Scrubbing Up for the Soaps". People. Retrieved December 5, 2013.