Margaret Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Brown
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| Born |
Margaret Tobin
July 18, 1867 Hannibal, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | October 26, 1932 (aged 65) New York City, U.S.
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| Resting place | Cemetery of the Holy Rood |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Margaret Tobin Brown, Maggie Brown, Molly Brown, Mrs. James J. Brown |
| Occupation | Socialite |
| Known for | Survivor of the Titanic sinking |
| Spouse(s) |
James Joseph Brown
(m. 1886; separated 1909) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) |
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Margaret Brown (born Tobin; July 18, 1867 – October 26, 1932) was an amazing American woman. She was known for her kindness and for helping others. After her death, people started calling her "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".
She was a passenger on the famous ship, the RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912. Margaret bravely tried to get the crew in her lifeboat to go back and look for more survivors. Her friends called her "Maggie" during her life. The nickname "Molly" became popular because of a 1960 Broadway musical and a 1964 film about her life, both called The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
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Early Life of Margaret Brown
Margaret Tobin was born on July 18, 1867, in Hannibal, Missouri. Her family lived in a small, three-room cottage near the Mississippi River. Today, this cottage is a museum called the Molly Brown Birthplace and Museum.
Her parents, John and Johanna Tobin, were immigrants from Ireland. Margaret had several brothers and sisters. She also had two half-sisters from her parents' earlier marriages.
Margaret's family called her "Maggie." She went to her aunt's grammar school, which was close to her home. Her father worked nearby at the Hannibal Gas Works. Their neighborhood was a close-knit Irish Catholic community. Many people passed through their town on their way to find gold in the West.
When she was 18, Margaret moved to Leadville, Colorado. She moved with her brother Daniel and her half-sister Mary Ann and Mary Ann's husband. Margaret and Daniel lived in a small log cabin. Margaret found a job sewing carpets and curtains at a store. Daniel worked as a miner.
Marriage and Family Life
In Leadville, Margaret met James Joseph Brown (1854–1922), who was called "J.J." He was a smart and self-educated man. Margaret married J.J. for love, even though he was not rich at the time.
Margaret and J.J. got married on September 1, 1886. They had two children: Lawrence Palmer Brown (born 1887), known as Larry, and Catherine Ellen Brown (born 1889), known as Helen. They also helped raise three of their nieces.
Mining Success and Philanthropy
The Brown family became very wealthy in 1893. J.J.'s hard work in mining engineering helped find a large amount of valuable ore at the Little Jonny Mine. His company gave him many shares of stock and a position on the board. In Leadville, Margaret helped miners' families by working in soup kitchens.
In 1894, the Browns bought a large Victorian house in Denver. This house is now known as the Molly Brown House. In 1897, they built a summer house called Avoca Lodge. These homes gave the family more chances to be part of society.
Margaret became a founding member of the Denver Woman's Club. This club worked to improve women's lives through education and charity. Margaret learned to speak French, German, Italian, and Russian. She also helped start a branch of the Alliance Française in Denver to share her love of French culture. She strongly supported women's right to vote.
Margaret hosted many parties for Denver's socialites. However, she could not join the most exclusive group, called the "Sacred 36." Margaret called the leader of this group "the snobbiest woman in Denver."
J.J. was not as interested in social life as Margaret was. After 23 years of marriage, they decided to separate in 1909. Margaret received money each month to continue her travels and charity work.
Margaret helped raise money for Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She also worked with Judge Ben Lindsey to help poor children. They helped create one of the first juvenile courts in the United States.
Passenger on the Titanic
In early 1912, Margaret was visiting her daughter in Paris. She received news that her oldest grandchild was very ill in Denver. She quickly booked a ticket on the first ship leaving for New York, which was the RMS Titanic. Her daughter Helen was supposed to go with her, but Helen decided to visit London instead. Margaret boarded the Titanic as a first-class passenger on April 10, 1912, in Cherbourg, France.
The Titanic sank early on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg. Margaret helped other people get into the lifeboats. She was finally convinced to get into lifeboat no. 6. More than 1,500 people died when the "unsinkable ship" sank.
Margaret was later called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" because of her actions. She helped with the ship's evacuation. In her lifeboat, she even took an oar and urged the crew to go back and save more passengers. The crewman in charge, Robert Hichens, was afraid that going back would cause the lifeboat to sink or be swamped by people in the water. After trying many times to convince him, Margaret even threatened to throw him overboard!
After being rescued by the ship RMS Carpathia, Margaret helped organize a committee of first-class survivors. This committee worked to get basic supplies for the second- and third-class survivors. They also offered comfort and support.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1914, Margaret ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Colorado. However, she stopped her campaign to work abroad during World War I. She became the director of the American Committee for Devastated France. For her work organizing female ambulance drivers, nurses, and food distributors, Margaret received the French Legion of Honor in 1932. Also in 1914, she helped miners and their families after the Ludlow Massacre. She also organized an International Women's Rights conference.
J.J. Brown died on September 5, 1922. Margaret told newspapers that even though she had met royalty and important people, "I've never met a finer, bigger, more worthwhile man than J.J. Brown."
Margaret spent her last years as an actress. She died peacefully in her sleep on October 26, 1932, at age 65, in New York City. She was buried next to J.J. in Westbury, New York.
Margaret's fame as a Titanic survivor helped her promote the causes she cared about. She supported the rights of workers and women. She also cared about education for children and preserving history. She wanted to remember the bravery of the men on the Titanic. During World War I, she helped rebuild areas in France and aided wounded soldiers. She received the French Légion d'Honneur for her good citizenship and charity work.
In 1985, Margaret Brown was honored by being included in the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
Portrayals in Film and Stage
Margaret Brown's life has been shown in many movies and plays:
- Thelma Ritter (1953) in Titanic
- Cloris Leachman (1957) in Telephone Time ("The Unsinkable Molly Brown")
- Tucker McGuire (1958) in A Night to Remember
- Tammy Grimes (1960) in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Broadway musical) – Tammy Grimes won an award for this role.
- Debbie Reynolds (1964) in The Unsinkable Molly Brown – Debbie Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award.
- Cloris Leachman (1979) in S.O.S. Titanic (TV movie)
- Fionnula Flanagan (1983) in Voyagers! ("Voyagers of the Titanic")
- Marilu Henner (1996) in Titanic (TV miniseries)
- Kathy Bates (1997) in Titanic
- Judy Prestininzi (2003) in Ghosts of the Abyss (Documentary)
- Linda Kash (2012) in Titanic (TV series)
- Beth Malone (2020) in 2020 off-Broadway revival
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Margaret Brown para niños
