Margery Pitt Durant (May 24, 1887 – February 3, 1969) was the daughter of businessman and General Motors founder, Billy Durant. She was notable for authoring a book about her father, her contributions to increasing travel abroad via aviation, photographing her aviation adventures, and for being a socialite.[1][2][3]
Margery Pitt Durant was born on May 24, 1887, in the city of Flint, Michigan. She was the daughter of William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller Pitt Durant. Growing up, Durant attended schools in Michigan, New York, and Washington D.C.[1]
My FatherEdit
In 1929, Durant published My Father, the book about her father William Crapo Durant. He was still alive at age 65 when the book was released. In the opening of the book, she wrote of her first "horseless carriage" ride. Upon her return, her father, the future founder of General Motors said, "Margery, how could you - how could you be so foolish to risk your life in one of those things." Margery wrote about her father with anecdotes from him, but a lot was written through her viewpoint.[4]
AviationEdit
In the early thirties, Durant advocated for private aviation. Amelia Earhart gave her the name of a reputable pilot who assisted her in learning to fly. She later bought her own airplane, a Lockheed Vega. In 1931 Durant had her aircraft transported across the Atlantic aboard the ocean linerS.S. Hamburg so she could fly over different countries in Europe and Africa.[1] While there, she took a number of photographs of her travels which are occasionally displayed today.[2]
Personal lifeEdit
Durant married a doctor and associate of her father, Edwin Rutheven Campbell (1868–1929), on April 18, 1906, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flint, Michigan.[3] She had William Durant Campbell in 1907 and Margery Edwina Campbell (later Mrs. Grant Sanger) in 1909 with him. They divorced in 1919.[1] She then married a banker, Robert Williams Daniel, a Titanic survivor and business associate of her father. Their marriage was shorter than her first, but she had her last child, Margery Randolph Daniel, with him in 1924.[5] In 1926 the couple bought Brandon Plantation in Prince George County, Virginia, and restored its historic mansion but they soon divorced. In 1929, she was married to John Hampton Cooper.[1] However, in My Father, she acknowledges Fitzhugh Green, an explorer and Naval Commander, for "making the book possible."[4] She married him in 1933.
The year of 1947 created quite some turmoil for Durant. Her father died that year. In September, she and Fitzhugh Green were charged for opiate possession.[6] A few months later, Fitzhugh died leaving Margery a widow.
^ abcdefSanger, Alexander. "Margery Durant 1887-1969". Margery Durant. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
^ abHamlin, Ardenna (March 2, 2011). "Photos of 1930s flying tour to Africa to be presented at Owls Head museum". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, ME. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
^ abArculus, Paul (2011). Durant's Right Hand Man. FriesenPress. p. 171. ISBN978-1770677838. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
^"Margery Randolph Daniel Merrick Obituary (2013) the Virginian-Pilot".
^"Polar Explorer and Wife Named on Drug Charge". Chicago Tribune. 1947-09-27.
August 29, 2023
margery, durant, margery, pitt, durant, 1887, february, 1969, daughter, businessman, general, motors, founder, billy, durant, notable, authoring, book, about, father, contributions, increasing, travel, abroad, aviation, photographing, aviation, adventures, bei. Margery Pitt Durant May 24 1887 February 3 1969 was the daughter of businessman and General Motors founder Billy Durant She was notable for authoring a book about her father her contributions to increasing travel abroad via aviation photographing her aviation adventures and for being a socialite 1 2 3 Margery DurantBornMargery Pitt Durant 1887 05 24 May 24 1887Flint Michigan U S DiedFebruary 3 1969 1969 02 03 aged 81 Florida U S Known forAuthor Aviation Enthusiast Photographer and SocialiteSpouse s Edwin Rutheven Campbell div Robert Williams Daniel div John Hampton Cooper div Fitzhugh Green Sr ChildrenWilliam Durant Campbell 1907 1995 Edwina Campbell Margery Randolph Daniel 1924 2013 Parent s William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller nee Pitt Durant Contents 1 Early life 2 My Father 3 Aviation 4 Personal life 5 ReferencesEarly life EditMargery Pitt Durant was born on May 24 1887 in the city of Flint Michigan She was the daughter of William Crapo Durant and Clara Miller Pitt Durant Growing up Durant attended schools in Michigan New York and Washington D C 1 My Father EditIn 1929 Durant published My Father the book about her father William Crapo Durant He was still alive at age 65 when the book was released In the opening of the book she wrote of her first horseless carriage ride Upon her return her father the future founder of General Motors said Margery how could you how could you be so foolish to risk your life in one of those things Margery wrote about her father with anecdotes from him but a lot was written through her viewpoint 4 Aviation EditIn the early thirties Durant advocated for private aviation Amelia Earhart gave her the name of a reputable pilot who assisted her in learning to fly She later bought her own airplane a Lockheed Vega In 1931 Durant had her aircraft transported across the Atlantic aboard the ocean liner S S Hamburg so she could fly over different countries in Europe and Africa 1 While there she took a number of photographs of her travels which are occasionally displayed today 2 Personal life EditDurant married a doctor and associate of her father Edwin Rutheven Campbell 1868 1929 on April 18 1906 at St Paul s Episcopal Church in Flint Michigan 3 She had William Durant Campbell in 1907 and Margery Edwina Campbell later Mrs Grant Sanger in 1909 with him They divorced in 1919 1 She then married a banker Robert Williams Daniel a Titanic survivor and business associate of her father Their marriage was shorter than her first but she had her last child Margery Randolph Daniel with him in 1924 5 In 1926 the couple bought Brandon Plantation in Prince George County Virginia and restored its historic mansion but they soon divorced In 1929 she was married to John Hampton Cooper 1 However in My Father she acknowledges Fitzhugh Green an explorer and Naval Commander for making the book possible 4 She married him in 1933 The year of 1947 created quite some turmoil for Durant Her father died that year In September she and Fitzhugh Green were charged for opiate possession 6 A few months later Fitzhugh died leaving Margery a widow Durant died on February 3 1969 in Florida 1 References Edit a b c d e f Sanger Alexander Margery Durant 1887 1969 Margery Durant Retrieved March 8 2015 a b Hamlin Ardenna March 2 2011 Photos of 1930s flying tour to Africa to be presented at Owls Head museum Bangor Daily News Bangor ME Retrieved March 8 2015 a b Arculus Paul 2011 Durant s Right Hand Man FriesenPress p 171 ISBN 978 1770677838 Retrieved March 8 2015 a b Durant Margery 1929 My Father p 9 Margery Randolph Daniel Merrick Obituary 2013 the Virginian Pilot Polar Explorer and Wife Named on Drug Charge Chicago Tribune 1947 09 27 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margery Durant amp oldid 1137678921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
