Marjorie Merriweather Post was once the richest woman in America. She wasn't just a "socialite," though the history books love that word. She was a powerhouse. She was the force behind General Foods. She owned Mar-a-Lago. She sailed the world on a yacht so large it basically had its own zip code. But when people talk about the Marjorie Merriweather Post spouse situation, it’s usually with a bit of a wink or a judgmental tally.
Four husbands. Four divorces.
In the early 20th century, that was a lot. Honestly, even today, it's a lot. But Marjorie wasn't just collecting wedding rings. Each marriage was a distinct era in a life that spanned from the Victorian age to the space age. Her husbands weren't just "plus-ones" at her legendary parties; they were business partners, diplomats, and sometimes, her biggest mistakes.
The First Marriage: Edward Bennett Close (1905–1919)
Marjorie was only 18 when she married Edward "Ned" Bennett Close. He was a New York lawyer from a solid, respectable family. It was a proper Gilded Age match. At the time, Marjorie was the darling daughter of C.W. Post, the cereal king.
They had two daughters, Adelaide and Eleanor. For a while, things were... fine. But Marjorie was growing. When her father died in 1914, she didn't just inherit a fortune; she inherited a massive company. Close was a traditionalist. He wanted a social wife, not a business mogul.
The Glenn Close Connection
Interestingly, if you’re a fan of the actress Glenn Close, you’ve heard this name before. Edward Bennett Close is actually Glenn Close’s grandfather (through his second marriage). It’s a small world in the American aristocracy.
By 1919, the marriage was done. It was a quiet exit, but it set the stage for Marjorie to take the wheel of her own life.
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The Power Couple: Edward Francis Hutton (1920–1935)
This is the marriage that changed American pantries forever. Edward F. Hutton, or "Ned" (yes, another Ned), was a legendary stockbroker. He was sharp. He was ambitious. Together, they were a 1920s power couple.
Under their leadership, the Postum Cereal Company exploded. They started buying up everything:
- Jell-O
- Maxwell House
- Birdseye Frozen Foods Basically, if it was in your kitchen in 1950, Marjorie and Ned probably put it there. They renamed the whole thing General Foods in 1929.
Life at Sea and in Palm Beach
While they were building a food empire, they were also building monuments to their wealth. They built Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. It was a 115-room "cottage." They also commissioned the Sea Cloud, which was then the largest privately owned sailing yacht in the world.
They had one daughter, Nedenia, who later became the famous actress Dina Merrill.
But Ned Hutton had a wandering eye. A big one. Marjorie wasn't the type to tolerate public humiliation. In 1935, she divorced him on the grounds of adultery. It was a massive scandal. She kept the house, the yacht, and the company board seat.
The Diplomatic Years: Joseph E. Davies (1935–1955)
Mere months after her divorce from Hutton, Marjorie married Joseph E. Davies. He was a powerhouse Washington lawyer and a close friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This marriage took Marjorie from the boardroom to the world stage. In 1937, FDR appointed Davies as the Ambassador to the Soviet Union. Marjorie, ever the trooper, packed up her furs and moved to Moscow.
The Russian Art Treasure Trove
While Davies was navigating the tense politics of pre-WWII Russia, Marjorie was shopping. Since the Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviet government had been selling off "excess" imperial treasures. Marjorie bought it all: Faberge eggs, Chalices, Catherine the Great's porcelain.
This collection eventually became the foundation of Hillwood Estate, her museum-home in D.C.
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The marriage lasted 20 years, her longest run. But Davies was reportedly difficult. He was jealous. He didn't like being "Mr. Marjorie Merriweather Post." By 1955, they called it quits.
The Final Chapter: Herbert A. May (1958–1964)
Marjorie’s final marriage to Pittsburgh businessman Herbert May is the one people whisper about. She was 71. He was a charming, silver-haired executive.
People warned her. Friends told her Herbert was "different." Marjorie, a lifelong Christian Scientist who usually avoided gossip, ignored them. She wanted companionship.
The marriage was a disaster from the start.
The Mar-a-Lago Photos
The breaking point was scandalous. Reportedly, Marjorie was shown graphic photographs of Herbert with other men around the pool at Mar-a-Lago. It wasn't just a rumor anymore; it was irrefutable. She was devastated. Even more hurtful was the discovery that her daughter, Dina Merrill, had known about Herbert’s proclivities before the wedding but hadn't wanted to break her mother's heart.
She divorced him in 1964. In a move that showed her true character, she actually continued to pay for his medical care after he suffered a stroke post-divorce. She was classy like that.
Why the Marjorie Merriweather Post Spouse History Matters
You've gotta realize that Marjorie was a woman out of time. She had the wealth of a king but lived in an era that wanted her to be a quiet queen.
She didn't stay in unhappy marriages for the sake of "appearances." That was rare for her social circle. She was a woman who valued her independence and her work. When a man tried to stifle her or betray her, she moved on.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you're looking to really understand the Marjorie Merriweather Post legacy, don't just read the marriage certificates.
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- Visit Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens: Located in Washington, D.C., this is where her Russian collection and French tapestries live. It’s the best way to see the "Davies era" influence.
- Study the General Foods Merger: If you’re into business history, look at how she and E.F. Hutton used "horizontal integration" to create General Foods. It’s a masterclass in 1920s economics.
- Read "Mission to Moscow": This was Joseph Davies' book about their time in Russia. Just take it with a grain of salt—it’s very pro-Stalin, which caused a lot of controversy later.
Marjorie died in 1973 as one of the most respected philanthropists in the country. She lived a massive life. The husbands? They were just chapters in a much bigger book.
Next Step: To get a deeper sense of her personal style and the scale of her wealth, research the "Post Diamonds" at the Smithsonian. Most of those pieces were worn during her time with E.F. Hutton and Joseph Davies.