Julie Ferry - The Million Dollar Duchesses: Husband hunting in the Gilded Age: How American heiresses conquered the aristocracy

Husband hunting in the Gilded Age: how American heiresses conquered the aristocracy

JULIE FERRY

For James, Evie and Arlo

Minnie Paget (Also known as: Minnie Stevens, Mrs Arthur Paget, Lady Paget) Favourite of Bertie, the Prince of Wales, Paget is an American living in London. An accomplished society hostess, she assists transatlantic marriages between the British aristocracy and American heiresses. Married to the untitled but well-connected Captain Arthur Paget from the aristocratic Paget family. Mother to four children, Albert Edward (godson of Bertie, the Prince of Wales), twins Arthur and Reginald and daughter Louise.

Sunny, Duke of Marlborough Emotionally repressed English aristocrat with a title for sale to save his beloved Blenheim Palace.

Consuelo Vanderbilt American debutante and one of the most eligible heiresses in society. In love with a dashing older man but totally dominated by her controlling mother, Alva.

Alva Vanderbilt (Also known as: Alva Smith) Wife of the wealthy Willie K Vanderbilt and ambitious mother of Consuelo Vanderbilt. Alva is determined that her imminent divorce wont affect her hard-won place in society.

Arthur Paget Minnies husband, who makes his money through horse racing and his role as Berties bookmaker. Arthur is not in possession of a hereditary title but with his wife, Minnie, they make a formidable team in society. As one of Berties favourites, hes almost guaranteed a title when Bertie becomes king.

Lily, Dowager Duchess of Marlborough (Also known as: Lilian Price, Lily Hamersley, Lily, Duchess of Marlborough) Twice widowed heiress who hopes to find love in England. Kind and rich, Lily is a favourite aunt of Winston Churchill.

Marietta Stevens (Also known as: Mrs Paran Stevens, Marietta Reed) Mother of Minnie Paget, widow of wealthy hotel magnate, Paran Stevens, sister of the always entertaining Fanny Reed, and New York society matron.

Mrs Astor New York society leader with the power to accept or shun social climbers into the fashionable set.

Bertie (Also known as: the Prince of Wales, King Edward VII) Leader of the Marlborough House Set. Fond of Americans.

Ward McAllister Self-styled social arbiter of New York and inventor of the Four Hundred.

Consuelo Manchester (Also known as: Consuelo Yznaga, Lady Mandeville, Dowager Duchess of Manchester) One of the original buccaneers, cigar-smoking Consuelo Manchester hails from the American South. Her family, the Yznagas, is of Cuban heritage and finds it difficult to be accepted into New York society. After her marriage to libertine Kim, the future Duke of Manchester, Consuelo Manchester has three children; Little Kim, heir to the Dukedom, and twin daughters, Lady Mary and Lady Alice. Perpetually broke owing to her husbands gambling debts, Consuelo Manchester acts as a social sponsor for the daughters of American plutocrats desperate to acquire a title.

Kim, Duke of Manchester Impoverished English Duke who becomes one of the first English aristocrats to marry into American money when he marries Consuelo Manchester. A spendthrift and a rake, he is forever avoiding the shadow of bankruptcy.

Jennie Chamberlain Wife of Sir Herbert Naylor-Leyland and former mistress of Bertie. One of Minnies first proteges.

Josephine Chamberlain Jennies sister who is keen to follow in her footsteps and marry into the British aristocracy, becoming one of several pairs of sisters to do so during the transatlantic phenomenon.

Winthrop Rutherfurd Dashing sportsman and one of New Yorks most eligible bachelors.

Mary Leiter Popular Washington heiress who counts President Clevelands wife as one of her best friends.

George Curzon The pompous heir to English country estate Kedleston with a passion for studying the East.

Maud Burke Vivacious San Francisco belle with a questionable background but a wealthy guardian who is prepared to furnish Maud with a tempting dowry.

Sir Bache Cunard English aristocrat with American connections. After a run of bad business decisions, Cunard finds himself in need of a cash injection to sustain his country estate.

Lord William Beresford Confirmed bachelor and accomplished soldier.

Pauline Whitney Young American heiress from the politically powerful Whitney family.

Almeric Paget Aristocrat from a historic English family and brother of Arthur Paget.

While it is very difficult to give an accurate comparison between monetary values in 1895 and the present day owing to fluctuations in currency values and the gap between relative values and purchasing power, we can estimate the figures based on the Retail Price Index to highlight the huge amounts of money that accompanied American heiresses to their new life in Great Britain. This also gives an insight into the money that was spent by Gilded Age hostesses on events like costume balls. In 1895 a British pound was equivalent to around $125 US dollars. One pound in 1895 could buy the equivalent of goods that in 2015 cost around 100. One dollar could buy the equivalent of goods that in 2015 cost around $30. To find out more about such comparisons, visit the website www.measuringworth.com.

We Britons born beneath a duller star,

Knew that her wit could blaze exceedingly bright,

But scarcely fancied it would reach so far

As literally make the house alight.

We hear of those who vainly do their best

By craft to set on fire our native Thames,

But heres a charming lady from the West,

Whose intellect turns Warter into flames.

POEM ABOUT MINNIE PAGET WRITTEN BY LORD CREWE DURING A STAY AT WARTER PRIORY IN 1896

June 1894, London

The American girl comes along, prettier than her English sister, full of dash, and snap, and go, sprightly, dazzling, and audacious CHAUNCEY M DEPEW

To those who didnt know Minnie well, the faintest hint of a smile that passed over her face would not have been cause for note. But those in her inner sanctum who attended such private affairs would have been quietly waiting for such a sign. For it demonstrated the hostesss obvious pleasure at the course of the evenings events and hinted that tonight was an occasion not to be missed. Before the guests had arrived she must have taken one last look at the seating arrangements and silently congratulated herself on a job almost well done. She had placed Sunny, the Duke of Marlborough, next to herself, with the Vanderbilt girl situated immediately on his right. Admittedly it wasnt a subtle placement, but Minnie didnt have time for subtlety. This was her chance to introduce the two parties in an intimate setting, and who knew whether such an opportunity would arise again before the end of the London Season.

One of the capitals most prestigious addresses, 35 Belgrave Square was the perfect place to entertain two single people at the pinnacle of their social worth. Minnie was riding high on the continued attendance of the Prince of Wales at her infamous soires and card parties, and every heiress who wanted to cement her place in society was clamouring for an invite to the Mayfair boudoir. It was rumoured that Minnie had spent close to six million dollars entertaining the Prince, but it was worth it, she would have reasoned; besides, it was a well-known fact that spending to accumulate was essential for a successful business and this was a simple extension of that philosophy.