Margery Durant
| Margery Durant | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Margery Pitt Durant May 24, 1887 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died |
February 3, 1969 (aged 81) Florida, U.S. |
| Known for | Author, Aviation Enthusiast, Photographer, and Socialite |
| Spouse(s) |
Edwin Campbell (div.) Robert Williams Daniel (div.) John Hampton Cooper (div.) Fitzhugh Green, Sr. |
| Children |
William Durant Campbell (1907-1995) Edwina Campbell Margery Randolph Daniel (1924-2013) |
| Parent(s) | William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller (nee Pitt) Durant |
Margery Durant (May 24, 1887 – February 3, 1969) was the daughter of businessman and General Motors founder, Billy Durant. She was notable for authoring a book about her father, her contributions to increasing travel abroad via aviation, photographing her aviation adventures, and for being a socialite.[1][2][3]
Early life
Margery Pitt Durant was born on May 24, 1887 in the city of Flint, Michigan. She was the daughter of William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller Pitt Durant. Growing up, Margery attended schools in Michigan, New York, and Washington D.C.[1]
My Father
In 1929, Margery Durant published My Father, the book about her father William Crapo Durant. He was still alive at age 65 when the book was released. In the opening of the book, she wrote of her first "horseless carriage" ride. Upon her return, her father, the future founder of General Motors said, "Margery, how could you - how could you be so foolish to risk your life in one of those things." Margery wrote about her father with anecdotes from him, but a lot was written through her viewpoint.[4]
Aviation
In the early thirties, she advocated for flight in private use. Amelia Earhart gave Margery the name of a reputable pilot who assisted her in learning to fly. She took her own aircraft over to Africa and Europe to fly over different countries on those continents.[1] While there, she took a number of photographs of her travels which are occasionally displayed today.[2]
Personal life
Margery married a doctor and associate of her father, Edwin Campbell, in 1906.[3] She had William Durant Campbell in 1907 and Edwina Campbell in 1909 with him. They divorced in 1919.[1] She then married a banker, Robert Williams Daniel, a Titanic survivor. In 1926 the couple bought Brandon Plantation in Prince George County, Virginia and restored its historic mansion. Daniel would later go on to become a Virginia senator. Their marriage was shorter than her first, but she had her last child, Margery Randolph Daniel, with him. In 1929, she was married to John Hampton Cooper.[1] However, in My Father, she acknowledges Fitzhugh Green, an explorer and Naval Commander, for "making the book possible."[4] She married him in 1933.
The year of 1947 created quite some turmoil for Margery. Her father died that year. In September, she and Fitzhugh Green were charged for opiate possession.[5] A few months later, Fitzhugh died leaving Margery a widow.
Margery Durant died on February 3, 1969 in Florida.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sanger, Alexander. "Margery Durant 1887-1969". Margery Durant. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- 1 2 Hamlin, Ardenna (March 2, 2011). "Photos of 1930s flying tour to Africa to be presented at Owls Head museum". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, ME. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- 1 2 Arculus, Paul (2011). Durant's Right Hand Man. FriesenPress. p. 171. ISBN 1770677836. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- 1 2 Durant, Margery (1929). My Father. p. 9.
- ↑ "Polar Explorer and Wife Named on Drug Charge". Chicago Tribune. 1947-09-27.