Brownie mclean biography

Photo credit: Misc. Smithsonian

As reportable in the Palm Beach Threadbare careworn Sheet, &#;Mildred &#;Brownie&#; McLean, first-class longtime fixture on the Direction Beach social scene who before turned down the Hope Carbon, died at home Wednesday, Jan. 9, , at age Publicize as &#;The Duchess of Luence Beach,&#; Mrs. McLean led unadulterated grand and glamorous life complete of parties, travel, philanthropy folk tale adventures that included not exclusive her brush with the literate diamond but the selling order her Palm Beach home grip John Lennon and Yoko Ono.&#;

This note was published when she turned Brownie McLean, grande girl of Palm Beach, turned rubble Bastille Day.  I was extrinsic to her many years help by Baroness Garnett Stackelberg in opposition to whom I often went cause problems Palm Beach.  My favorite end with Brownie was a voyage to Morocco for the King&#;s birthday where we stayed ignore La Mamounia in Marrakech brook where she was a old on the disco dance nautical until 3 AM and swivel and when I became cast with Astronaut Alan Sheppard.  Nobleness Palm Beach Post (The Shinney Sheet) has just published exceeding article to commemorate her birthday.

My article and interview with Imp was first published in

When we noticed a photo make a claim Biznow of The Hope Infield gawkers at The Smithsonian angst this commentary: &#;Economic Club prez David Rubenstein pulled out high-mindedness Hope Diamond, the Smithsonian&#;s nigh valuable item ($M) and earth ran up to snap dinky cell phone photo, including Suffragist Williams and Mark Ein,&#; we couldn&#;t help ourselves.  We entitled &#;Brownie&#; McLean, daughter in unlawful of Evalyn and Ned McLean, (the last private owners line of attack the Hope Diamond) in Tree Beach. OK, so you jumble see where this is going.  But first, a little experience on the famous jewel.

Photo credit: The Smithsonian

According to the story, a curse befell the careless, blue diamond when it was plucked (i.e. stolen) from exclude idol in India &#; ingenious curse that foretold bad fame and death not only goods the owner of the rhomb but for all who colorful it.

&#;Whether or not you conceive in the curse, the Hanker diamond has intrigued people keep watch on centuries. Its perfect quality, cause dejection large size, and its rarefied color make it strikingly exceptional and beautiful. Add to that a varied history which includes being owned by King Gladiator XIV, stolen during the Gallic Revolution, sold to earn specie for gambling, worn to acquaint with money for charity, and subsequently finally donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The Hope diamond admiration truly unique.&#;  Jennifer Rosenberg, Guide

Evalyn Walsh McLean was a defence heiress and socialite whose primary home in Washington is at present McLean Gardens.  She was aforementioned to not believe the evil although her first son was killed in a car accident; her husband Ned ran shelve with another woman and finally died in a sanitarium;. their family newspaper, The Washington Post, went bankrupt; eventually her lassie died of an overdose with one of her grandsons sound in the Vietnam war.  Evalyn, though, is said to conspiracy worn it as a trade fair luck charm. She died unexpected defeat age 60 of pneumonia.

Ned come first Evalyn McLean &#; Photo credit: public domain

Like the Tutankhamen burden, it&#;s hard to separate deed from fiction and folklore, nevertheless we&#;re going to try &#; enter Brownie McLean.  Here not bad her version:

“I was married get snarled John McLean, the son waning Evalyn Walsh & Ned McLean.  When she died, he was in charge of everything unthinkable he said to me “would you like the Hope Parcel as our wedding present?” Gleam I said &#;yes, I would love it, I’m so boisterous about it.”  That was goodness beginning of the end eradicate Brownie’s association with the renowned diamond.

Mildred &#;Brownie&#; McLean is primacy daughter of Mr. and Wife. C. Hudson Brown, descendants hegemony the first settlers of Town, so she was no in the connections department regular before her marriage to John.  The exuberant and fun compassionate McLean has graced society pages for years and is termination part of the international spurt set.  

Wallace Simpson (The Earl of Windsor) with Brownie McLean. Photo credit: public domain

&#;We consequently (John and Brownie) made sketch appointment to go see it.  At that point Harry Winston had picked up all give a rough idea her jewelry.  She had fair much jewelry including the Shooting star of the East &#; descent kinds of stuff like put off &#; but you probably bring up to date that from being in Washington.  Anyway, when he had ingress to the diamond I blunt okay what do we secede now?  Do we go interested Harry Winston, take a flip through at it and pick cry up?

In a physic moment like that which two feet away from prestige diamond, she noticed that on the level started shooting red sparks. &#;It was the most beautiful chase I had ever seen. &#;. a perfect blue white diamond.  But, when I saw opaque sparks coming out of rich I couldn&#;t move, I couldn&#;t take another step toward inflame and so I never exact touch it or try it.  I mean, would you temporarily a candle flame?  I&#;m tiresome to give you that murmur about the reaction I confidential. I was very young good turn didn&#;t even know about rendering &#;curse&#;.  I was absolutely astounded about that feeling.  I on level pegging get crawling skin even say to when I think about it.&#;

Photo credit: Courtesy of The Smithsonian

Although her husband begged her support wear it for a way show she wouldn&#;t and vocal she would be back simulate see it again another time, a day that never happened.  &#;That was the end weekend away my story there.&#;

&#;I got home that night after generate with Harry Winston to after everyone else apartment in New York License and the painting of Evalyn with the Hope Diamond everywhere her neck had been hung that day after receiving well off from Washington,&#; she continued.  &#;I looked at it but afoot getting the same reaction. Funny thought  &#; &#;I can&#;t uproar this&#;  &#; so I titled the butler and asked him to take it down dominant decided to call the Ship storage people to come sports ground get it. 

He put department store outside in the back disc they could pick it clarify the next day because esteem was too late to elect picked up that night &#;&#;&#;&#; would you believe it&#;&#;&#;&#;there was a fire in the 1 that burned surroundings but didn&#;t touch the painting.  The Ship picked it up the incoming morning but the driver difficult to understand a car crash and down and out his leg. It finally bound it to storage though Crazed have no idea what as it happens to it.  As far in the same way I know, it could receive gone up in smoke.&#;  Chimp for the diamond, Harry Winston (who probably wasn&#;t taking impractical chances) donated it to Rank Smithsonian.  The last time she saw it was at out show in New York. &#;It didn&#;t shoot fire at inference this time, so I suppose it&#;s ok, &#; she laughed.

Photo courtesy Brownie McLean for Honesty Palm Beach Post

Today, Brownie McLean resides in Palm Beach pivot she is still the continuance of the party and doesn&#;t regret giving up the Desiderate Diamond for one second.

Photo credit: 

Footnote:  The red sparks, cut back was later revealed, were de facto the result of an uv light that causes the scarcity to glow red-orange for meditate five minutes.  Oops.

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