Marjorie Merriweather Post facts for kids

"Marjorie Post" redirects here. For the American actress Marjorie Armstrong Post, see Markie Post.

Quick facts for kids Marjorie Merriweather Post
Post in 1942
Born	(1887-03-15)March 15, 1887 Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Died	September 12, 1973(1973-09-12) (aged 86) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater	Mount Vernon Seminary and College
Occupation	Businesswoman socialite philanthropist
Spouse(s)	Edward Bennett Close (m. 1905; div. 1919) Edward Francis Hutton (m. 1920; div. 1935) Joseph E. Davies (m. 1935; div. 1955) Herbert A. May (m. 1958; div. 1964)
Children	3; including Eleanor Post Hutton and Dina Merrill
Parent(s)	C. W. Post (father)

Marjorie Merriweather Post (born March 15, 1887 – died September 12, 1973) was a very successful American businesswoman. She was also a well-known socialite, meaning she was active in high society, and a generous philanthropist, someone who donates a lot of money to good causes. Marjorie Post became the owner of General Foods, a huge food company.

She used much of her wealth to collect amazing art, especially pieces from the Russian Empire. Many of these artworks are now shown at Hillwood, which was her home in Washington, D.C. She is also famous for her beautiful mansion, Mar-a-Lago, located in Palm Beach, Florida.

Early Life and Family Business

Marjorie Merriweather Post was born in Springfield, Illinois. She was the only child of C. W. Post and Ella Letitia Merriweather. When she was 27, her father passed away in 1914. Marjorie then became the owner of the fast-growing Postum Cereal Company. Her father had started this company in 1895.

After inheriting her father's business, Marjorie became the richest woman in the United States. She received US$20 million, which would be like having over half a billion dollars today. She went to the Mount Vernon Seminary and College. She stayed connected to her college throughout her life. She even became its first former student to serve on its board.

Leading General Foods Corporation

Marjorie Post took over the Postum Cereal Company in 1914. She remained a director of the company until 1958. With her second husband, E.F. Hutton, she helped the business grow even bigger. They bought many other American food companies. These included famous brands like Hellmann's Mayonnaise, Jell-O, Baker's Chocolate, and Maxwell House coffee. In 1929, the Postum Cereal Company changed its name to General Foods Corporation.

While traveling on her yacht, the Hussar, Marjorie discovered something new. She met Clarence Birdseye in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He had found a new way to keep food fresh by freezing it. Marjorie saw how important frozen food would become in the future. She bought Birdseye's company, and it became a huge success.

Marjorie Post's Philanthropy

Marjorie Post was very generous and supported many causes. During World War I, she paid for a U.S. Army hospital in France. Years later, the French government honored her with the Legion of Honour. This is a very important award.

Starting in 1929, during the Great Depression, she helped people in need. She funded and personally oversaw a Salvation Army feeding station in New York. She also paid for the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Washington. In 1971, she received the Silver Fawn Award from the Boy Scouts. A large lake, Lake Merriweather, was named after her at a Boy Scout camp.

She gave $100,000 to the National Cultural Center in Washington. This center later became the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 1955, she gave $100,000 to the National Symphony Orchestra. This money helped start free concerts for young people, which she continued to fund every year. The Merriweather Post Pavilion, an outdoor concert place in Columbia, Maryland, is named for her.

Marjorie Post's Lifestyle

Marjorie Merriweather Post lived a grand lifestyle. She owned several magnificent homes and a large yacht.

Amazing Jewelry Collection

Marjorie Post owned many stunning pieces of jewelry. She gave some of them to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. These jewels are now on display there. Her collection included the Napoleon Diamond Necklace. This necklace and a tiara were given by Napoleon I to his second wife, Empress Marie Louise.

She also owned the Marie Antoinette Diamond Earrings. These beautiful diamond earrings once belonged to Marie Antoinette, a famous French queen. Another piece was the Blue Heart Diamond, a large heart-shaped blue diamond ring. She also had an emerald-and-diamond necklace and ring. These once belonged to Mexican emperor Maximilian.

Russian Art Collection

Marjorie Post loved Russian culture and art. In the 1930s, the Soviet government was selling art treasures. These items had been taken from the Romanov family and other Russian nobles after the Russian Revolution. They sold them to get money for their country. Marjorie and her third husband, Joseph E. Davies, bought many of these valuable Russian artworks.

Many of these items are now at Hillwood, her former estate. Hillwood is now a private museum. It shows her French and Russian art collection. This includes famous Fabergé items, Sèvres porcelain, French furniture, and paintings.

Notable Homes and Yacht

Marjorie Post owned several impressive properties:

Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida: This beautiful mansion was designed by Marion Sims Wyeth. Marjorie Post left Mar-a-Lago to the U.S. government in 1973. She hoped it would be a retreat for presidents. However, it was not used for this purpose. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1980.
Hillwood (Washington, D.C.): This estate now serves as a private museum. It displays Marjorie's amazing collection of French and Russian art.
Camp Topridge, Upper St. Regis Lake, Adirondacks, NY: This was a "rustic retreat" in the mountains. It had a main lodge and private guest cabins, each with its own butler. The large camp, built in 1923, eventually had nearly 70 buildings. It even included a Russian dacha (a type of country house).
Sea Cloud (Hussar V): This was a huge yacht that Marjorie personally designed. It was built in 1931 for her and her second husband, E. F. Hutton. At the time, it was the largest privately owned yacht in the world. They traveled the world on it with their daughter Nedenia. After her divorce, she renamed the yacht Sea Cloud. She continued to sail it with her new husband, Joseph E. Davies, for his trips as an ambassador.

Marjorie Post's Personal Life

Marjorie Merriweather Post was married four times.

Marriages and Children

Edward Bennett Close: In 1905, Marjorie married Edward Bennett Close. They had two daughters:

Adelaide Brevoort Close (1908–1998)
Eleanor Post Close (1909–2006), who became known as "Eleanor Post Hutton." She married six times. Edward Bennett Close later became the grandfather of actress Glenn Close.

Edward Francis Hutton: Marjorie's second marriage was in 1920 to financier Edward Francis Hutton. He became the chairman of the Postum Cereal Company board in 1923. Together, they expanded the company and developed new food products, like Birdseye Frozen Foods. They divorced in 1935. They had one daughter:

Nedenia Marjorie Hutton (1923–2017), who became a well-known actress named Dina Merrill.

Joseph E. Davies: In 1935, Marjorie married her third husband, Joseph E. Davies. He was a lawyer from Washington, D.C. They did not have children together and divorced in 1955. From 1937 to 1938, Joseph Davies served as the American ambassador to the Soviet Union. During this time, Marjorie and Joseph bought many valuable Russian artworks from the Soviet authorities.

Herbert A. May: Marjorie's last marriage was in 1958 to Herbert A. May. He was a wealthy businessman. This marriage ended in divorce in 1964. After that, she went back to using the name Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Death and Legacy

Marjorie Post passed away at her Hillwood estate in Washington, D.C., on September 12, 1973. She was buried there. She left most of her wealth to her three daughters: Adelaide Close, Eleanor Post Close, and Nedenia Hutton.

Images for kids

Mar-a-Lago, Marjorie Merriweather Post's estate on Palm Beach Island
Entrance to Mar-a-Lago owner's suite, April 1967
Boathouse at Camp Topridge
Yacht Sea Cloud
Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband Ambassador Joseph E. Davies (center) with Carlton Skinner at a presentation of a Naval Reserve Pennant on board her yacht Sea Cloud.