Marjorie Merriweather Post, the heiress of the Post cereal fortune, led a life that many would consider extraordinary. While her lifestyle was marked by luxury, it is her philanthropic endeavors that have left a more enduring legacy.
Today, Marjorie Post is widely recognized as the architect of Mar-a-Lago, a grand estate that is now the residence of former President Donald Trump. This remarkable property is just one aspect of her enchanting life. As one of the wealthiest and most esteemed women in 20th-century America, Marjorie was celebrated not only for her beauty but also for her extensive art collection and generous contributions to charities, nonprofits, and individuals in need.
Marjorie’s journey began in humble surroundings. Born on March 15, 1884, in Springfield, Illinois, to Charles William Post and Ella Letitia Merriweather, she spent her formative years on a farm in Battle Creek, Michigan. Her father, known as C.W., had become an entrepreneur after recovering from a long illness. Influenced by Christian Science, he believed in the power of positive thinking and healthy living. Rejecting coffee as unhealthy, he developed a non-caffeinated beverage made from roasted wheat bran and molasses, which he named Postum. Marjorie fondly recalled helping him label jars of this new drink. C.W. later expanded his product line to include Grape-Nuts (1897) and Post Toasties (1904), achieving impressive sales by the early 1900s.
Despite women not having the right to vote during her childhood, C.W. was determined that Marjorie would understand the family business. He taught her about budgeting, insisted she attend board meetings, and took her on business trips across the country. To immerse her in high society, he enrolled her in the prestigious Mount Vernon Seminary for young women in Washington, D.C.
By her teenage years, Marjorie had accumulated significant wealth. C.W. gifted her shares of Postum, which were valued at $3 million by the time she turned 16. However, he expressed concern about her spending on clothing. In a letter from 1904, he admonished her for wanting to buy new furs, stating, “You have more than double the clothes, shoes, and things that any girl, no matter how rich, should have at 17. Now make some of the furs you have do and don’t order more dresses or clothes before you return…. Go slowly; your father wants you to be sensible.
Marjorie Post’s life story is not just about wealth and grandeur; it’s a testament to the impact of her philanthropic spirit. She channeled her resources into causes that mattered, creating a lasting legacy that continues to inspire. Through her charitable contributions and community initiatives, she demonstrated that true wealth lies in the ability to uplift others.
Marjorie Post: The Heiress Who Navigated Life’s Challenges
Marjorie Merriweather Post’s life was filled with both personal challenges and remarkable accomplishments. After her father, C.W. Post, divorced her mother, Ella, and married his secretary, Leila Young, Marjorie faced a new chapter in her life. At just 18, she announced her engagement to Edward Close, a young attorney from Greenwich, Connecticut. Their wedding on December 5, 1905, garnered significant media attention, with one New York newspaper predicting that the Closes would “occupy a prominent position in the younger set” due to Marjorie’s wealth and Edward’s prestigious lineage.
As a wedding gift, C.W. presented Marjorie and Edward with a generous check and commissioned an 11-bedroom house in Greenwich, aptly named The Boulders. Initially, their marriage seemed promising, especially with the births of their daughters, Adelaide in 1908 and Eleanor in 1909. However, tensions soon emerged. Edward detested Marjorie’s love of a posh lifestyle and disapproved of her dedication to Christian Science. Conversely, Marjorie found the social circles of Greenwich to be suffocating and felt that Edward’s drinking was excessive. Moreover, it became clear to C.W. that running the Postum Cereal Company didn’t really interest Edward.
On May 9, 1914, Marjorie experienced a devastating loss when her father, believing himself to be terminally ill, took his own life. The 27-year-old heiress attended the funeral in shock, a loss from which she would never fully recover.
Fortunately, C.W. had appointed skilled managers who ensured that the Postum Cereal Company remained profitable during this turbulent time. With the onset of World War I, Edward was drafted into the military. Seeking to make a meaningful contribution, Marjorie began volunteering for the Red Cross, rolling bandages for soldiers. Determined to do even more, she decided to fund an Army hospital ship destined for France.
Tragically, on July 30, 1917, as she and her daughter Adelaide watched the ship leave the harbor, it was accidentally struck by the S.S. Panama. Although doctors, nurses, soldiers, and crew members were rescued, all of the medical supplies were lost in the disaster.
Marjorie Post’s resilience in the face of adversity reflects her strength and commitment to helping others. Her life, marked by both wealth and philanthropy, continues to inspire many today. Through her various endeavors, Marjorie demonstrated that true legacy lies not only in fortune but also in the impact one has on the world.
Marjorie Post was a woman of determination and vision. Just eight days after her initial effort, she financed a second shipment of supplies, which were sent on the S.S. Finland to Savenay, France. Her contribution played a key role in the establishment of the Number 8 Base Hospital, the largest Red Cross facility in wartime Europe. Her generosity and leadership did not go unnoticed; in 1957, France honored Marjorie Post with the prestigious French Legion of Honor. This hospital venture symbolized her evolving belief that women, particularly those with wealth, could wield influence by using their resources for meaningful, socially beneficial causes.
Shortly after, her husband, Ed, returned from Europe, where he had received the French Medal of Honor. Despite this, their marriage deteriorated, leading to divorce. Around the same time, Marjorie was introduced to the legendary stockbroker Edward Francis Hutton (E.F.), who was recently widowed. E.F. was known for his charm, sharp style, and storytelling prowess, and when they met again in 1919, a romance blossomed. The couple married on July 20, 1920, and E.F. took on the role of president at the Postum Cereal Company. Three years later, Marjorie Post gave birth to her third daughter, Nedenia, who would later become the famous actress Dina Merrill.
The Huttons relocated to Florida for the winter and soon rose to prominence in Palm Beach’s burgeoning “nouveau riche” community. They lived in several opulent homes before Marjorie decided to create something more impressive. She selected 17 acres of land nestled between Lake Worth and the Atlantic Ocean, and once the jungle-covered land was cleared, architect Marion Wyeth designed a home centered around a grand courtyard.
However, Marjorie Post was not satisfied with just another mansion. She aimed for something distinct. Upon the recommendation of friends, showman Florenz Ziegfeld and his actress wife Billie Burke, she brought in Joseph Urban, a Viennese architect and set designer. Urban enhanced Wyeth’s original blueprint by adding a crescent-shaped Hispano-Mooresque structure topped by an iconic tower. The estate, named Mar-a-Lago—meaning “from sea to lake” in Latin—boasted 115 rooms surrounding a vast, circular patio. Completed in 1927, the estate cost an astonishing $2.5 million. When friends marveled at the grandeur of the home, E.F. “You know, Marjorie said she was going to build a little cottage by the sea,” he commented in a joking way. Look what we got!”
This incredible estate not only reflected Marjorie Post’s desire for something unique but also cemented her reputation as a trendsetter and a powerful figure in American high society. Marjorie Post’s legacy, marked by her philanthropy, leadership, and unique vision, continues to resonate today.
During the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties, E.F. Hutton, Marjorie Post’s second husband, initiated sweeping changes to her father’s company. In 1923, he relocated the headquarters of the Postum Cereal Company from Battle Creek to Manhattan and expanded its product line. Among the acquisitions were well-known brands like Jell-O, Swans Down Cake Flour, Minute Tapioca, Baker’s Chocolate, and Log Cabin Maple Syrup. To reflect this growth, E.F. renamed the business to the Postum Company. Despite Marjorie Post’s memories of her father’s aversion to coffee, E.F. added the coffee competitor Sanka to the product line. Even more upsetting for Marjorie was the 1927 acquisition of Maxwell House Coffee, as she had been raised to believe that “coffee was just like taking dope.”
Marjorie Post also made a major contribution to the Postum Company at this time. While she and E.F. were sailing near Gloucester, Massachusetts, their yacht’s cook served a roasted goose. Intrigued by the meal, Marjorie asked where the cook had sourced the bird. She learned it came from a frozen food company owned by Clarence Birdseye. At that time, frozen food quality was generally low, but Birdseye had developed a rapid-freezing method he learned from the Inuit in Labrador. This reminded Marjorie of her mother’s hours spent canning food on their family farm, which sparked her interest in the potential for frozen foods. Convinced that Birdseye’s innovation would revolutionize the food industry, she urged E.F. to explore the opportunity.
Marjorie Post passionately advocated for frozen foods, telling her husband, “I’m speaking for the housewife here. Frozen foods will reduce her work considerably. We simply cannot afford to pass up this opportunity. But E.F. was initially skeptical, citing the impracticality of grocers needing to install freezers. But Marjorie persisted, assuring him that stores would adapt. After months of hesitation, E.F. agreed to purchase Birdseye’s General Seafood Corporation in 1929, though the price had nearly doubled to $22 million. Following the acquisition, E.F. renamed the Postum Company to General Foods Corporation to better reflect its expanded product portfolio.
Just four months later, the stock market crash of October 1929 ushered in the Great Depression. Even before the crash, the cost of constructing Mar-a-Lago and disputes over Birdseye’s frozen foods had placed strain on the Huttons’ marriage. The economic collapse, coupled with the widespread unemployment and rise of tent cities, deeply troubled Marjorie Post. Her compassionate nature drove her to take action. She sponsored a charity ball at Madison Square Garden and spearheaded a gift campaign for the Salvation Army Women’s Emergency Aid Committee. Marjorie also stood on Park Avenue during rush hour, collecting donations for the Gibson Unemployment Relief Committee, and used her insurance savings to establish the Marjorie Post Hutton Canteen, providing aid for women and children.
While Marjorie Post dedicated herself to charitable causes, E.F. Hutton disapproved of both her philanthropy and President Roosevelt’s relief efforts. He publicly criticized Roosevelt in an essay for “soaking the rich” with his economic policies. This, combined with Marjorie’s discovery of her husband’s affair with her French maid, led to the end of their marriage.
Over the next four decades, until her passing in 1973, Marjorie Post became one of America’s most prominent philanthropists. She was a supporter of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Boy Scouts of America, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the future Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Yet perhaps her most enduring legacy is Mar-a-Lago, the iconic estate that remains a symbol of the grandeur and opulence of a bygone era.
Marjorie Post’s remarkable life of influence, generosity, and vision continues to be celebrated today, with Mar-a-Lago standing as a testament to her extraordinary impact.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Marjorie Post was not only a trailblazer in the world of business but also a passionate philanthropist who used her wealth and influence for the greater good. From her contributions to the Postum Company and her foresight in the frozen food industry to her tireless efforts in supporting charitable causes during the Great Depression, she left an indelible mark on American society. Marjorie’s legacy endures through her numerous philanthropic contributions and the iconic Mar-a-Lago estate, a symbol of her remarkable life and vision. Her impact continues to inspire generations, reflecting her belief in the power of using wealth for meaningful, positive change.
FAQs About Marjorie Post
- Who was Marjorie Post?
Marjorie Post was a wealthy American businesswoman, philanthropist, and socialite. She inherited the Postum Cereal Company, which later became General Foods, and was known for her contributions to business, her charitable work, and the construction of the famous Mar-a-Lago estate. - What did Marjorie Post do for the Postum Company?
Marjorie Post played a crucial role in expanding the Postum Company by supporting her husband E.F. Hutton’s acquisitions of major brands like Jell-O, Baker’s Chocolate, and Birdseye’s frozen foods, eventually leading to the creation of General Foods Corporation. - What philanthropic work did Marjorie Post do?
Marjorie Post was involved in many charitable activities, especially during the Great Depression. She supported organizations like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Boy Scouts of America. She also founded the Marjorie Post Hutton Canteen to aid women and children in need. - Why is Mar-a-Lago significant to Marjorie Post’s legacy?
Mar-a-Lago, the grand estate Marjorie built in Palm Beach, Florida, is one of her most well-known legacies. It symbolizes her wealth, influence, and unique vision. The estate remains an iconic representation of her life and era. - How did Marjorie Post impact the frozen food industry?
Marjorie Post recognized the potential of frozen foods when she met Clarence Birdseye, the innovator behind the quick-freeze method. She pushed for the acquisition of his company, which helped revolutionize the food industry under General Foods.
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