Me and my enquiring mind was at work again this week. I ran across an article the other day that caught my eye that you might find interesting as well. It happened around the turn of the century and centers around British royalty and American wealth.
The cash-strapped English noblemen found it very difficult to keep living in the luxury they’d been accustomed to. They struggled to maintain huge estates in the face of dwindling wealth that had always sustained them. They owned a lot of land and castles but had little capital. What were they to do? They looked across the pond to bright and shiny America and its new money.
It didn’t hurt that these rich Americans had beautiful unmarried daughters. Not at all.
It didn’t take long for deals to be struck – titles in exchange for money. A publication called Titled Americans listed eligible British bachelors who would be interested in marrying their own dollar princesses. Between 1870 and 1914 a whopping 454 American heiresses had married into the aristocracy.
Among the list was Consuelo Vanderbilt whose father was railroad tycoon William Vanderbilt. He provided a dowry of 1.6 million dollars as well as an income of two million in stocks. (Roughly $96,000,000 today) That was a lot of money. Against her wishes, Consuelo married Charles Spencer-Churchill. It was not a happy union. He was in love with another and promptly told her so. Despite that, she had an unhappy marriage, she gained a place in British society as Duchess of Marlborough and became a voice for women’s rights. After living apart for several years, they divorced and she married the love of her life, a French aviator named Jacques Balsan.
Jennie Jerome was another whose father sought a good marriage for. She married Lord Randolph Churchill and became Lady Churchill. They had a rocky marriage to start with but made a go of it and stayed together until he died. One of their sons was Winston Churchill. I never knew he had an American mother! Jennie threw herself into the marriage and played in influential role in her husband’s political career in addition to diving into women’s social issues.
I’ll mention one other. Nancy Langhorne who married Viscount Waldorf Astor. Nancy became a distinctive presence among British society and after her husband was elevated to the House of Lords, she ran for his seat in the House of Commons and became the first woman to occupy that seat for quite a few years.
This practice was actually reverse marriages of convenience but for the men.
Some marriages worked and some didn’t. Also, some resented the arrangement and never tried to make it work. The Americans and the Brits have always kind of been linked together. History is crammed packed with nuggets like this. I never get bored of diving in and seeing what I can find.
How about you? Do you find history as dull and boring as a piece of limp cheese? Or do the stories come alive in your mind and you want to know more?
Next month, I’ll have the release of my new western romance – Cade’s Quest. I can’t wait. Oh and my sister, Jan Sikes, who is also a writer will share my post on August 19th. We’ll have giveaways! It’ll be fun!
Cade McIntyre sets out to find his lost siblings and bring them home—only to discover danger at every turn…and an unexpected chance at love. But will he find heartache or hope?
This is available for preorder now. CLICK HERE
So, get ready for a party next month. Much love.
Linda Broday
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/
Love this history. DOWNTON ABBEY is a fictional TV/movie example of this.
I love history–it was my minor in college. I can go down the rabbit hole looking for historical information.
Denise, you’re right. Downton Abbey portrayed an American woman married to the Duke. It’s a great example. But I didn’t know all this at the time the show aired. It always puzzled me why the Duke would have an American wife and mother-in-law. Now I know! History is so amazing and you can find so many fascinating things that have seemingly been hidden. Love and hugs.
I hadn’t heard the term before although I know it happened during this time period and that the New York wealthy were among the top contenders. A form of mail order bride/groom situation since many did not actually meet until the marriage had been secured. This was not unlike the marriages between the European aristocrats. The majority of those did not end happily either. Thanks for more food for thoughts.
Susan, that’s absolutely right. I doubt if any met before the actual wedding. These marriages were all arranged and many while the couple were only children. Those marriages were power-brokered. Something had to be advantageous for both sides for a deal to be struck. But, like you said, nothing could keep them in the arrangement afterward and a good many got out. Have a blessed day.
I like when they come alive. History can be intriguing but even better when part of a story.
Deb, I agree. When you wrap a story around something like this, it just really comes alive. Have a wonderful and blessed day.
I love history. It was one of my majors in college, and I continue to learn all I can.
So will I, Janice. I’ve found a person withers away when they close their minds and hearts. I’m going to keep mine open until there is no more. Blessings and love.
When presented with the word ‘history’, my mind is saying BORING! However, in articles such as yours, I find it quite interesting and am glad I decide to read more. My husband shares lots of history with me and some of it is pertinent to what I might be interested in, other things not so much. History can be very interesting if presented in the right way. You do very well, Linda. Your new book sounds very interesting.
I agree, Judy. Some of it I have no interest in and I do find that boring. But we change also. When I was younger reading about war bored me to tears. Now, I am fascinated by it and I can see how it affects me today. It’s like I can see a bigger picture now. Your hubby must be an interesting fellow with his love of history. My husband had an inquiring mind and read about so many interesting things. I sure miss him. I’ll have more next month (and giveaways) with the new book plus my sister’s book too. Something to look forward to. Have a blessed day.
Hey Linda! I have also watched Downton Abbey and all the movies. And another one coming this fall! Regency Romance is another I read from time to time. Thanks for the history on the Churchill’s! I didn’t know this either.
History is my second love behind my art. But, they can be mixed in together. I’m a Smithsonian and History watcher. Love those two channels.
I can’t wait to read your new book Linda! I have it saved in my book wish list! Who is your sister, Linda? Does she write westerns too?
Many blessings to you!
Good morning, Tracy. I’m glad you found my historical tidbit as interesting as I did. There’s always something to learn. I can’t get the Smithsonian channel but I do watch the History channel. Love the programs they present.
Thank you for the interest in Cade’s Quest. I appreciate that. My sister is Jan Sikes. She has a new women’s fiction book called A Bold Bargain. It’s the third book of her Bargainer series. Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/4e16oBD Her stories are so gentle and sweet. No bad language or sex. They make you glad you read them and fill your heart to the brim. Blessings and love. I wish you a beautiful day.
I enjoy history, that is why historical romance is my favorite thing to read.
Hi Quilt Lady, thanks for coming over and adding a smile to my day. Historicals are the best in my book and are mostly what I buy. I don’t read a lot of contemporary and I’m very picky when I choose that genre. Love and hugs, dear lady.
I love these little nuggets of history
Rhonda, I do too. It makes me happy to run across something interesting. Have a blessed day.
This was so fascinating! I had never heard of the Penny Princesses and found this quite fascinating! I know I wouldn’t have wanted to be one of them, lol, though I would hope I would have tried to make it work.
Barbara, I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. I wouldn’t have wanted to be one either. Some of those British men are very stuff. Or at least they seem that way. You know, some of these rich heiresses are extremely spoiled and hard to live with. Those are the ones who wouldn’t have tried. Thanks for coming and have a blessed day.
I love history!!! It was my favorite subject in school, and I still love it! Just as long as I don’t have to memorize all those dates again!! I had heard some about “dollar princesses” but not that name. I didn’t realize there were so many, and how neat about Winston Churchill!!
Trudy, history was one of my favorite subjects in school too. No, no, I didn’t do dates then and I sure don’t now! I’m so happy you enjoyed my post. We learned something! Have a blessed day.
History has never been my favorite subject but it was never presented in this way in school. lol It was always boring information, mostly dates I had to remember. This information about the Dollar Princesses was very interesting. I had never heard of them either. Love that Winston Churchill’s mother was an American. I had not known that either. So, I learned a lot from your email today.
Can’t wait to read your book. And, I will look for books by your sister. Thanks for the history lesson. I might just change my mind about history being boring. Doesn’t have to be.
Sarah, I’m really happy I could present a historical event that you think is interesting. No dates. Nothing to memorize. I didn’t like that either. I’m also happy my new book has caught your eye. If you pick it up, I hope it satisfies. Thank you for popping over to read my post. Have a blessed day.
Good morning, well when I was young and in school I did not like History at all., but I love Historical novels, Thanks to great authors like you. The Dollar Preincess informations is so very interesting , Thank you for sharing about it! Your new book sounds like a great read and I will be on the look out for your sisters book also. Have a Great day and a Great week.
Alicia, as kids in school we weren’t too interested in history because it usually entailed memorizing dates. That’s not what catches my fancy and still doesn’t. I just like knowing the stories around the dates. I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. Thank you for the interest in mine and my sister’s books. Blessings and love.
I enjoy history and reading historical books . Thanks for sharing the article . It was very interesting. Can’t wait to read your new book.
Linda, thank you for liking my post and learning something. 🙂 If you do grab my new book, I hope it satisfies. Have a blessed day.
I think history is fascinating! One thing I discovered in college was the way we view history depends on the outlook of who wrote what we are reading. In college one professor required us to read 2 history books- one written by the English and one written by an American about the revolutionary war – 2 completely different viewpoints. When you add real people to the history, it makes it fascinating!
That’s interesting, Karijean. I’m not sure the English version of the Revolutionary War would be accurate. Yes, you’re so right. It’s the people we care about and how they handle the historical event. Thank you for coming. Sending love your way.
I love history and enjoy reading about or watching it. I did kown about Lady Jennie Churchill. There was a movie about her and think actress Lee Remick played her. She was a fascinating person.
Kathleen, I just looked it up and Lee Remick did play Lady Jennie in the movie by the same name. I sure wish I had seen that. Of the Dollar Princesses I read about, Lady Jennie was the most interesting to me. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you have a lovely day.
I think arranged marriages were common in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s but I hadn’t heard the term dollar princesses. I did know Churchill’s mother was an American thanks to a PBS program about him. Memorizing dates wasn’t easy but I always liked timelines that helped me gain perspective on how historical events fit together or maybe influenced one another. I always seemed to be surprised when I realized two events happened at the same time period.
I’d never heard the term “Dollar Princess” before. This is very interesting. I knew about the dowries but not the term.
I have read a it about Dollar Princesses. History was one of my least favorite subjects in high school and college. Memorizing names, dates, places, etc. is tedious. However, one of my teachers assigned us to read an historical fiction novel for the course. It opened a whole new view of history. Putting people in places, times, and events brings them to life and they make sense. It gives me context and understanding. I follow a blog by some British historical romance authors and they write extensively about the research they do for their books. They include links for their research and I would follow them. So often I would get lost in the article and the various links, coming up for air 2 or 3 hours later. I love the site, but don’t visit too often. I just don’t have the time to get lost “down the rabbit hole.” I think students would learn and remember more history if teachers assigned good historical fiction that pertained to what they were studying.
I look forward to hearing more about Cade’s Quest and your new series.
I like reading about historical people and things, there is always something interesting to learn.
Hi Linda, I always loved history. The Roman Empire, American West, British society & etc. The more I read the more I wanted to know. Can’t wait to read your new book, Cade’s Quest. Have a Awesome Summer!!!
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