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Consuelo VanderbiltThe famous beauty, a representative of the Vanderbilt family of American millionaires, who married the 9th Duke of Marlborough
Date of Birth: 02.03.1877
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Consuelo Vanderbilt
The Famous BeautyConsuelo Vanderbilt, a famous beauty and representative of the American millionaire Vanderbilt family, married the 9th Duke of Marlborough. As the wealthiest bride of Victorian times, her wedding became an international symbol of a mutually beneficial marriage.
Early Life
Consuelo Vanderbilt was born in New York City as the only daughter of William Kissam Vanderbilt, an American millionaire and railroad magnate, and his first wife, Alva Erskine Smith, an Alabama beauty and suffragist. Her exotic Spanish name, Consuelo, was given to her by her godmother, Maria Consuelo Yznaga del Valle, a half-Cuban woman who caused a scandal by marrying an English lord. From a young age, Consuelo was pressured by her mother to marry as successfully as her godmother did.
The Marriage
Consuelo's mother arranged for her to marry Prince Franz Joseph Battenberg, but Consuelo was secretly engaged to an American named Winthrop Rutherford. Alva Vanderbilt locked Consuelo in her room and threatened to kill Rutherford. Faced with her mother's threats and pretending to be dying from disobedience, Consuelo agreed to marry the Duke of Marlborough. The dowry Consuelo received from the Duke was $2.5 million, which allowed him to restore the famous Blenheim Palace.
Life as the Duchess
Consuelo and the Duke had two children together, but their marriage eventually fell apart, and they lived separately from 1907 onwards. The Duchess became involved in philanthropic projects and supported the poor living on her husband's lands. Despite their divorce in 1921, Consuelo maintained ties with the Churchill family, especially with Sir Winston Churchill, who often visited her in her French chateau.
Second Marriage
In 1921, Consuelo married Jacques Balsan, a pioneer in French aviation and heir to a textile manufacturer. They lived in Paris and had a happy marriage. During World War II, they fled Europe and settled in the United States. Consuelo was awarded the Legion of Honor for her philanthropic work and for opening a children's hospital in Paris. She passed away in Southampton, New York, in 1964, and is buried in the same churchyard as her ex-husband and Sir Winston Churchill, near Blenheim Palace.
