Mary Elsie Moore | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | December 21, 1941
New York City, U.S. | (aged 52)
Other names | Donna Elsie Torlonia, [1] the "Dollar Duchess" |
Occupation | American heiress |
Title |
Princess of Civitella-Cesi Duchess di Poli e Guadagnolo |
Spouse | |
Children |
|
Parent(s) | Charles Arthur Moore Mary L. Campbell |
Relatives |
|
Mary Elsie Moore, Princess di Civitella-Cesi (October 22, 1889 – December 21, 1941), was an American railroad equipment heiress who married and divorced Italian Prince Don Marino Torlonia, 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi.
Mary Elsie Moore was born October 22, 1889, in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest child of Charles Arthur Moore (1846–1914) [2] and Mary ( née Campbell) Moore (1854–1928). [3] Her father was a shipping broker and hardware manufacturer from Connecticut, who went on to become the president of Manning, Maxwell and Moore, a large industrial concern. [4] [5]
Her siblings were Charles Arthur Moore Jr. who married Annete Sperry and Elizabeth Hyde (maternal grandfather of actress Glenn Close); Eugene Maxwell Moore, who married Titanic survivor Margaret Graham; and Jessie Ann Moore, who married the son of U.S Navy Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester.
Moore was educated at Mrs. Dow's School in Briarcliff Manor, New York. [4]
On August 15, 1907, Moore married the then Duke of Poli and Guadagnolo Don Marino Torlonia (1861–1933) at Old Orchard, her parents' estate in Belle Haven, Greenwich, Connecticut. [6] She was nicknamed, "the Dollar Duchess" by the media. [5] [7] Upon his brother Augusto Torlonia's death in 1926, her husband became the 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi. Together, the Prince and Princess of Civitella-Cesi had four children: [4]
In 1922, the Duke of Torlonia fought a duel with Count Filippo Lovatelli, the famous Italian sculptor, over a statue of the Duchess, causing an international sensation. [10] [11]
The Prince of Torlonia was having an affair. [5] In 1925, the couple separated and in 1926, the Duchess filed for divorce in the United States. [12] Her American citizenship was brought into question, [13] but the Connecticut courts decided that her residence in the state was legal and granted her divorce in February 1928. [14] [15]
Once settled in the United States she became a socialite, active in society life in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. [5] Moore died at her home, 375 Park Avenue in New York City, on December 21, 1941. [4]
The Dollar Duchess
Mary Elsie Moore | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | December 21, 1941
New York City, U.S. | (aged 52)
Other names | Donna Elsie Torlonia, [1] the "Dollar Duchess" |
Occupation | American heiress |
Title |
Princess of Civitella-Cesi Duchess di Poli e Guadagnolo |
Spouse | |
Children |
|
Parent(s) | Charles Arthur Moore Mary L. Campbell |
Relatives |
|
Mary Elsie Moore, Princess di Civitella-Cesi (October 22, 1889 – December 21, 1941), was an American railroad equipment heiress who married and divorced Italian Prince Don Marino Torlonia, 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi.
Mary Elsie Moore was born October 22, 1889, in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest child of Charles Arthur Moore (1846–1914) [2] and Mary ( née Campbell) Moore (1854–1928). [3] Her father was a shipping broker and hardware manufacturer from Connecticut, who went on to become the president of Manning, Maxwell and Moore, a large industrial concern. [4] [5]
Her siblings were Charles Arthur Moore Jr. who married Annete Sperry and Elizabeth Hyde (maternal grandfather of actress Glenn Close); Eugene Maxwell Moore, who married Titanic survivor Margaret Graham; and Jessie Ann Moore, who married the son of U.S Navy Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester.
Moore was educated at Mrs. Dow's School in Briarcliff Manor, New York. [4]
On August 15, 1907, Moore married the then Duke of Poli and Guadagnolo Don Marino Torlonia (1861–1933) at Old Orchard, her parents' estate in Belle Haven, Greenwich, Connecticut. [6] She was nicknamed, "the Dollar Duchess" by the media. [5] [7] Upon his brother Augusto Torlonia's death in 1926, her husband became the 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi. Together, the Prince and Princess of Civitella-Cesi had four children: [4]
In 1922, the Duke of Torlonia fought a duel with Count Filippo Lovatelli, the famous Italian sculptor, over a statue of the Duchess, causing an international sensation. [10] [11]
The Prince of Torlonia was having an affair. [5] In 1925, the couple separated and in 1926, the Duchess filed for divorce in the United States. [12] Her American citizenship was brought into question, [13] but the Connecticut courts decided that her residence in the state was legal and granted her divorce in February 1928. [14] [15]
Once settled in the United States she became a socialite, active in society life in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. [5] Moore died at her home, 375 Park Avenue in New York City, on December 21, 1941. [4]
The Dollar Duchess