Betty Leggett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betty Leggett
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Leggett (center) with Olea Bull (left) and Josephine MacLeod at a dinner for the King and Queen of Norway in 1906
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| Born |
Elizabeth MacLeod
January 24, 1857 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | October 1, 1931 |
| Resting place | Sleepy Hollow Cemetery |
| Occupation | Religious activist |
| Spouse(s) |
William Sturges
(m. 1876; Francis Howard Leggett
(m. 1895; |
| Children | 3 (including Alberta Montagu, Countess of Sandwich) |
| Relatives |
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Elizabeth MacLeod Sturges Leggett (born January 24, 1857 – died October 1, 1931) was an American woman often called Bessie Leggett or Betty Leggett. She was well-known in society, wrote many letters, and was a dedicated student of the Hindu monk and philosopher Swami Vivekananda.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Elizabeth MacLeod was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 24, 1857. Her parents were John David MacLeod and Mary Ann Lennon. Her family had Scottish roots and a long history in the Southeastern United States. Her father became very wealthy through his business in Ohio. Elizabeth also had a sister named Josephine MacLeod, who was a spiritual writer.
Married Life and Spiritual Journey
On October 8, 1876, Elizabeth married William Sturges. He was a businessman from Chicago and had been married before. They had a son named Hollister and a daughter named Alberta. The family lived in Manhattan, New York, and also traveled to Europe, where they had homes in Paris and London. William Sturges passed away in 1894.
In 1895, Elizabeth started attending classes in New York City. These classes were taught by Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk and philosopher from India. Around this time, she began dating Francis Howard Leggett. He was a very rich wholesale grocer from New York. He also started attending Vivekananda's classes with her.
Elizabeth, Francis, and her sister Josephine became lifelong followers of Swami Vivekananda. They studied his teachings, which were part of a philosophy called Neo-Vedanta. Elizabeth became very close friends with Vivekananda. She wrote letters to him and traveled with him to different countries.
Marriage to Francis Leggett
Elizabeth and Francis Leggett got married on September 9, 1895. It was a small ceremony in Paris, and Swami Vivekananda was there. Elizabeth and Francis had one daughter together, named Frances Howard Leggett.
The family divided their time between their home in Manhattan and a large estate called Ridgely Manor in Stone Ridge, New York. Elizabeth also spent part of each year in Europe. She had a house in London and an apartment in Paris, where she hosted many fancy parties. She spent a lot of time in London, and her daughters were formally introduced to society there.
Swamiji's Cottage and Family
The Leggetts built a special five-bedroom house called Swamiji's Cottage. It was on their New York estate and was meant for Hindu monks to stay in. Elizabeth and her children often visited the monks there. Swami Vivekananda himself stayed at Swamiji's Cottage three times, with his last visit lasting ten weeks. Elizabeth and her family also hosted Vivekananda in Chicago and Paris.
In 1906, Elizabeth and her sister attended a special dinner in Norway. It was for King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway.
In 1920, Elizabeth and her daughter Alberta visited Flanders. They wrote about the damage they saw from World War I.
Through her daughter Alberta, Elizabeth was the grandmother of Victor Montagu, 10th Earl of Sandwich, Lady Mary Faith Montagu, and Lady Elizabeth Montagu. Through her daughter Frances, she was the grandmother of Francis Vere Hampden Margesson.
Because she came from an important family and married into another, Elizabeth was listed in the Social Register. This book listed the most prominent families in society.
Betty Leggett passed away in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on October 1, 1931. She is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York.
Images for kids
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Leggett (center) with Olea Bull (left) and Josephine MacLeod at a dinner for the King and Queen of Norway in 1906
