Margery Durant
Margery Durant | |
---|---|
Born | Margery Pitt Durant May 24, 1887 |
Died | February 3, 1969 | (aged 81)
Known for | Author, Aviation Enthusiast, Photographer, and Socialite |
Spouses |
Rutheven Campbell (divorced)John Hampton Cooper (divorced) |
Children | 3, including William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller (nee Pitt) Durant |
Margery Pitt Durant (May 24, 1887 – February 3, 1969) was the daughter of businessman and
Early life
Margery Pitt Durant was born on May 24, 1887, in the city of
My Father
In 1929, 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, Durant advocated for private aviation. Amelia Earhart gave her the name of a reputable pilot who assisted her in learning to fly. She later bought her own airplane, a Lockheed Vega. In 1931 Durant had her aircraft transported across the Atlantic aboard the ocean liner S.S. Hamburg so she could fly over different countries in Europe and Africa.[1] While there, she took a number of photographs of her travels which are occasionally displayed today.[2]
Personal life
Durant married a doctor and associate of her father, Edwin Rutheven Campbell (1868–1929), on April 18, 1906, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flint, Michigan.
The year of 1947 created quite some turmoil for Durant. Her father died that year. In September, she and Fitzhugh Green were charged for opiate possession.[6] A few months later, Fitzhugh died leaving Margery a widow.
Durant died on February 3, 1969, in Florida.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Sanger, Alexander. "Margery Durant 1887-1969". Margery Durant. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ ISBN 978-1770677838. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ a b Durant, Margery (1929). My Father. p. 9.
- ^ "Margery Randolph Daniel Merrick Obituary (2013) the Virginian-Pilot".
- ^ "Polar Explorer and Wife Named on Drug Charge". Chicago Tribune. 1947-09-27.