Margaret Van Alen Bruguiére

Margaret "Daisy" Van Alen Bruguière (née Post; July 15, 1876 – January 20, 1969) was an American socialite, art collector and the niece of Frederick Vanderbilt. From the 1940s until her death, she was the leader of the social scene in Newport, Rhode Island.

Margaret Van Alen Bruguière
Margaret Post Van Alen, from a 1903 publication.
Born	Margaret Louise Post (1876-07-15)July 15, 1876 Newport, Rhode Island
Died	January 20, 1969(1969-01-20) (aged 92) Newport, Rhode Island
Occupation(s)	Socialite, art collector, philanthropist
Political party	Republican
Spouses	James Laurens Van Alen ​ ​ (m. 1900; died 1927)​ Louis Bruguière ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 1954)​
Children	James Henry Van Alen II
Relatives	Rose Post Howard (sister)

Mrs. Brugiere in 1957

Early life

On July 15, 1876, she was born as Margaret Louise Post in Newport, Rhode Island, to William Post (1848–1900) and Rosalie DeWolf Anthony (1844–1929), a descendant of the early settlers of Rhode Island.^[1] Her maternal aunt, Louise Vanderbilt (née Anthony; 1844–1926), was married to Frederick Vanderbilt, a grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt.^[2] Her younger brother was William Post and her sister was Rose Post Howard, the wife of Thomas H. Howard.^[3]

She spent her summers at the Post family's residence in Newport, 'Rosetta', and winters at her uncle Frederick Vanderbilt's Hudson Valley estate, Hyde Park. After marrying James Laurens Van Alen, she moved into the Van Alen family's Newport mansion, 'Wakehurst', an exact replica of Wakehurst Place in England, which would serve as her home for more than seventy years.

Philanthropy

She was known for supporting a number of causes, including the Red Cross and Newport Hospital, in addition to a number of local charities in Newport and Washington. When her son, Jimmy Van Alen, purchased the Newport Casino and began restoring it, she donated $10,000 towards the restoration.^[1]

She gave $10,000 for the landscaping and renaming of Washington Square Park in Newport in honor of her friend, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.^[4] She was also a prominent support of the Republican Party, and was known for hosting political fundraisers at her various homes in Newport and Washington.

Wakehurst

Wakehurst in 1958

Every summer would be spent in Newport at her home 'Wakehurst' (which had been legally deeded to her in 1927), where she would host the most fashionable entertainments. By the 1940s, she had become known as the new leader of Newport's 'High Society', the Newport winter season officially starting with her annual Christmas party. One was not considered an "insider" unless one had received TWO invitations to Mrs. Van Alen's mansion. The first, most likely for tea and crackers, was for Mrs. Van Alen to have a chance to survey the potential candidate. Only if a second invitation was received, for dinner, was acceptance assured.^[1] By the 1960s, many of Newport's grand mansions that lined Bellevue Avenue had been turned into public museums or schools. "Wakehurst is the last 'properly run' [estate] left in Newport."^[5]

Later years

She spent most of the 1930s serving as a nurse to her ailing uncle, Frederick Vanderbilt, at Hyde Park. When he died in 1938, he left the majority share of his $78 million fortune to her, along with his Hyde Park estate.^[6] She later donated the estate as a public park and museum, today known as the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.^[4]

Personal life

In 1900,^[1][7] Margaret, who was called "Daisy" by her family and friends, married James Laurens Van Alen (1878–1927),^[8] the son of James John Van Alen (1848–1923) and grandson of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (1830–1908), "the Mrs. Astor".^[9] Before his death in 1927, they were the parents of:

• James Henry Van Alen II (1902–1991),^[10] who married Candace Baird Alig (1912–2002),^[11] in 1948.^[12]
• William Laurens Van Alen (1907–2003), who married Elizabeth Brinton Kent (1911–2015),^[13] the daughter of A. Atwater Kent, the inventor and prominent radio manufacturer, in 1931.^[14]
• Louise Astor Van Alen (1910–1998), who married Prince Alexis Mdivani in 1931.^[15][16] They divorced in 1932, and in 1933 he married Barbara Hutton. In 1936, she married his brother, Prince Serge Mdivani, who was divorced from Pola Negri.^[17][18] Serge died during a polo match shortly thereafter, also in 1936.^[19] She later met Alexander Saunderson (d. 2004),^[20] a British soldier who was the great-grandson of Alexander Saunderson. They married in 1947^[21] and remained married until her death in 1998.^[22]

In 1948, Daisy Van Alen married yachtsman Louis Sather Bruguière (1882–1954), son of Louis S. Bruguière and grandson of Peder Sather, who had survived the sinking of the S.S. Arabic.^[23] They lived together at Wakehurst and in Washington, D.C. until his death in 1954.^[24]

She died in 1969 as the wealthiest woman in Newport, with her estate being valued at $47 million. In her obituary, she was officially declared the "Dowager Empress of American Society".^[9][1]

Descendants

Her grandson, William L. Van Alen Jr. (1933–2010), a lawyer, was married to Virginia Guest, the daughter of Elizabeth Polk Guest and Raymond R. Guest, a horse breeder and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland in 1975.^[25] Her maternal grandfather was Frank Polk, the first United States Under Secretary of State, and her paternal grandfather was Frederick Guest, an MP and Secretary of State for Air and the third son of Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne.^[25]

In popular culture

• As The Money Burns (2020–present) website, a history podcast reconstructing the Great Depression through the lives of heirs and heiresses. Daisy Van Alen's daughter Louise Van Alen is a primary character, and Daisy as well as her two sons and Louise's brothers appear regularly throughout the series.

References

1. Nemy, Enid (January 21, 1969). "Mrs. Louis S. Bruguiere Dies; Leader of Society in Newport; Second Invitation to Visit Her Was Viewed as Hallmark of Acceptance in Colony". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
2. "F. W. VANDERBILT DIES IN HYDE PARK; Grandson of Founder of the Family Fortune-61 Years on New York Central Board OWNER OF FAMOUS YACHTS Gifts to Hospitals, Colleges and Other Institutions Totaled Millions Director of 22 Railroads Gave Millions to Philanthropy In Cup Defender Syndicate Bought Napoleonic Furnishings". The New York Times. 30 June 1938. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
3. "MRS. THOMAS H. HOWARD RITES HELD IN NEW YORK | Kin of Former Colonists Was Sister of Mrs. Louis S. Bruguiere". Newport Mercury. 8 Apr 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
4. "Wealthy Newport Dowager, Mrs Brugiere, Dies at 92". Nashua Telegraph. 22 January 1969. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
5. McCardle, Dorothy (13 November 1963). "Glamor Of Nineties Glitters by the Sea". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
6. "F.W. VANDERBILT LEFT $72,845,478; Appraisal Shows Four Public Gifts Totaled $11.114,609, 42 1/2% of Residuary TAXES TAKE $42,836,278 City, State and Westchester Bonds and U.S. Steel Stock Formed Bulk of Estate". The New York Times. 30 December 1941. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
7. "ENGAGEMENT AT NEWPORT.; Miss Margaret Louise Post to Marry James Lawrence Van Alen". The New York Times. 30 October 1900. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
8. "JAMES L. VAN ALEN DIES IN PARIS AT 48; Member of Old New York Family, Long Ill, Succumbs With Family at Bedside". The New York Times. 31 May 1927. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
9. Moore, Patricia (27 August 1973). "Old And New Newporters Preserve Way Of Life". The Toledo Blade. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
10. "James Van Alen, 88, Innovator Who Changed Scoring in Tennis". The New York Times. 5 July 1991. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
11. "Candace A. Van Alen". The New York Times. March 2, 2002. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
12. "MRS. C. VANDERLIP, J. H. VAN ALEN WED; Assistant to Herald Tribune Editor Bride of Descendant of John Jacob Astor". The New York Times. 9 November 1948. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
13. "Paid Notice: Deaths VAN ALEN, ELIZABETH (BETTY) BRINTON KENT". The New York Times. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
14. "MISS ELIZABETH KENT WED TO W.L. VAN ALEN; Married to Great-Grandson of William Astor at St. Saviour's Church, Bar Harbor, Me". The New York Times. 9 August 1931. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
15. "LOUISE VAN ALEN WEDS PRINCE MDIVANI MAY 15; Wedding to Take Place in Wakehurst, Bride-Elect's Homeof Newport". The New York Times. 22 March 1931. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
16. "LOUISE A. VAN ALEN IS WED TO PRINCE; Simplicity Marks Marriage to Alexis Mdivani at Mother's Newport Villa. ONLY RELATIVES PRESENT Ceremony Takes Place in Room Where Bride Was Christened-- They Plan Tour of Europe". The New York Times. 16 May 1931. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
17. "MISS VAN ALEN TO REWED.; She Will Marry Serge Mdivani, Whose Brother She Divorced". The New York Times. 4 December 1935. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
18. "MDIVANI WEDDING IS HELD IN FLORIDA Former Louise Van Alen Bride of Ex-Brother in Law at Her Mother's Villa. SHE IS GOWNED IN WHITE Carnations and Ferns Are Used in Decoration of the Home for the Ceremony". The New York Times. 9 February 1936. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
19. "SERGE MDIVANI LEFT ESTATE OF $478,631; Half Goes to Widow, Former Louise Astor Van Alen". The New York Times. 1 February 1939. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
20. "Paid Notice: Deaths SAUNDERSON, ALEXANDER". The New York Times. 12 September 2004. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
21. "MRS. L. A. MDIVANI BRIDE IN NEWPORT; Former Louise Van Alen Wed in Historic Trinity Church to Alexander Saunderson". The New York Times. 20 August 1947. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
22. "Paid Notice: Deaths SAUNDERSON, LOUISE ASTOR VAN ALEN". The New York Times. 1998. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
23. "MRS. M. L. VAN ALEN, L. S. BRUGUlERE WED". The New York Times. 1948. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
24. "LOUIS S. BRUGUIERE, ART CONNOISSEUR, 72". The New York Times. 1954. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
25. "Virginia Guest Is Married to William L. Van Alen Jr". The New York Times. 19 October 1975. Retrieved 18 September 2017.