July 18 is another reason to remember the sinking of the Titanic: on this day in 1867, one of the most famous surviving passengers was born, and was born, apparently, under a lucky star. We are talking about Margaret (Molly) Brown - American activist, socialite, feminist, philanthropist, nicknamed "unsinkable Molly." So much has been written, talked about, and feature films made about her that it is now quite difficult to separate truth from fiction and restore her real appearance.
Margaret Brown
Photo: blog.trud.ru
Margaret Tobin was born in the United States to Irish immigrants. Since childhood, she dreamed of marrying a young man from a wealthy family in order to help her father, who was raising six children. But her chosen one was as poor as she was. Maggie doubted for a long time: “I fought with myself in those days. I loved Jim, but he was poor. Finally, I decided that I would be better off with the poor man whom I love than with the rich, whose money attracts me. So I married Jim Brown. And fate rewarded her for this decision: a gold mine was discovered on her husband's site, and soon they became millionaires.
* Unsinkable Molly Brown *
Photo: peoples.ru
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Margaret Brown has always taken an active social position: fought for women's rights, became an activist of the feminist movement, defended the rights of miners and gold prospectors, participated in the League of Political Equality, was one of the first students of the Carnegie Institute in New York. She studied art history and several foreign languages. Margaret was one of the first women in the United States to run for the Senate 8 years before women won the right to vote. After 23 years of marriage, the Brown couple divorced: her husband did not share Maggie's social activity and did not understand her interests.
Legendary Margaret Brown
Photo: blog.trud.ru
Margaret Brown traveled a lot, and the news of her grandson's illness found her in London. She made the decision to urgently go to New York and booked tickets for the nearest ship. It turned out to be the Titanic. After the crash of the liner, Margaret, finding herself among the rescued in boat No. 6, demanded to return for the drowning, but she was refused. After the survivors were picked up by the Carpathia, Margaret Brown actively helped all the victims of the shipwreck: she looked for blankets and food, made lists of the dead, monitored the provision of medical assistance, etc.
Molly presents the Captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, with the Cup of Love on behalf of the surviving passengers of the Titanic
Photo: deireland.com
Molly presents the Captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, with the Cup of Love on behalf of the surviving passengers of the Titanic
Photo: liveinternet.ru
Upon arriving in New York, Margaret Brown established the Titanic Survivor Fund and raised $ 10,000 for passengers in need. She handed the captain of the "Carpathia" "the cup of love" on behalf of all the saved passengers. Later, she raised funds for the construction of a memorial dedicated to the Titanic in Washington. Since women at that time did not have the right to testify in court, Margaret wrote her version of the liner crash and published it in the newspapers.
* Unsinkable Molly Brown *
Photo: liveinternet.ru
During World War I, Margaret Brown worked in France on the American Committee for the Liberation of the Country. She was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor for this activity, as well as for helping those rescued from the Titanic. Unsinkable Margaret Brown died in 1932, at the age of 65, from a brain tumor.
Katie Bates as Molly Brown, * Titanic *, 1997
Photo: kino-teatr.ru
It is interesting that during her lifetime no one called her "Molly" - this name was coined in Hollywood, like many details of her biography. The legend of Molly Brown was inspired by Denver reporter Gene Fowler, who in the 1930s. wrote several articles about an outstanding woman. In them, Molly appeared as an intellectual who knew 5 languages, but at the same time a rustic and shameless lady who swore like a miner. Later, the legend of a cheeky and eccentric boy-girl was picked up by Carolyn Bancroft, who published her fictional biography. Soon there was a radio show, followed by the Broadway musical "Unsinkable Molly Brown", based on which the film of the same name was filmed in 1964. Legend has it that she owes her nickname to the phrase she said to journalists upon arrival after the crash in New York: "We, Brown, unsinkable!"
Katie Bates as Molly Brown, * Titanic *, 1997
Photo: kinopoisk.ru
Margaret Brown was not the only woman to survive the world's most famous shipwreck
