Linda Lee Thomas
Encyclopedia
Linda Lee Thomas was an American
socialite, the wife of musical theatre
composer Cole Porter
.
A descendant of the Lee family
of Virginia, daughter of Louisville banker William Paca Lee and his wife, née Lily Hill, Linda Belle Lee was, in her youth, a noted beauty. She was introduced by friends to Edward Russell Thomas
, a son of Union general Samuel Thomas, and owner of the New York Morning Telegraph (and who later became the first American
to kill someone in a car accident
), and married him on June 29, 1901 at Newport, Rhode Island
, when she was 17. They lived a life of luxury, with houses in Palm Beach, Manhattan, and Newport. It was said that her favorite "department store" was Van Cleef & Arpels
. They divorced on October 26, 1912, reportedly due to his abuse.
Thomas and Cole Porter met on January 30, 1918, at the wedding of railroad heiress Ethel Harriman and Henry Potter Russell at the Hôtel Ritz Paris
.
Linda and Cole were married on December 18, 1919, in the city hall of the 18ème arrondissement of Paris
. From 1920 to 1929 the Porters lived at 13 rue Monsieur, a house next door to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
, and with a garden adjoining the future residence of Nancy Mitford
. They were married 34 years, and although they had no children born of their marriage, Linda conceived and miscarried.
Linda died from emphysema
in the couple's apartment in the Waldorf Towers, leaving an estate of over one and a half million dollars in which Cole Porter had a lifetime interest. She was buried in the Porter family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, Indiana
.
A one-woman show about Linda's life with Cole, Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter
, starring jazz vocalist Stevie Holland
, ran for two separate engagements starting October 29, 2009, and closing June 9, 2010, off-Broadway
at the Triad Theater.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialite, the wife of musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
composer Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
.
A descendant of the Lee family
Lee family
The Lee family of the United States is a historically significant Virginia and Maryland political family, whose many prominent members are known for their accomplishments in politics and the military. Through the past few hundred years it was believed that Colonel Richard Lee of Virginia descended...
of Virginia, daughter of Louisville banker William Paca Lee and his wife, née Lily Hill, Linda Belle Lee was, in her youth, a noted beauty. She was introduced by friends to Edward Russell Thomas
Edward Russell Thomas
Edward Russell Thomas was an American businessman and sportsman, and owner of the New York Morning Telegraph, which he bought in 1904 from the estate of William Collins Whitney. He was a son of Union general Samuel Thomas, and later became the first American to kill someone in a car accident.From...
, a son of Union general Samuel Thomas, and owner of the New York Morning Telegraph (and who later became the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to kill someone in a car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
), and married him on June 29, 1901 at Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, when she was 17. They lived a life of luxury, with houses in Palm Beach, Manhattan, and Newport. It was said that her favorite "department store" was Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a French jewellery, watch, and perfume company that was founded in 1896 by Charles Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef. They opened their first boutique in 1906 at 22 place Vendôme, Paris...
. They divorced on October 26, 1912, reportedly due to his abuse.
Thomas and Cole Porter met on January 30, 1918, at the wedding of railroad heiress Ethel Harriman and Henry Potter Russell at the Hôtel Ritz Paris
Hôtel Ritz Paris
The Hôtel Ritz is a grand palatial hotel in the heart of Paris, the 1st arrondissement. It overlooks the octagonal border of the Place Vendôme at number 15...
.
Linda and Cole were married on December 18, 1919, in the city hall of the 18ème arrondissement of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. From 1920 to 1929 the Porters lived at 13 rue Monsieur, a house next door to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ was a French philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist and took part in the discovery of both Piltdown Man and Peking Man. Teilhard conceived the idea of the Omega Point and developed Vladimir Vernadsky's concept of Noosphere...
, and with a garden adjoining the future residence of Nancy Mitford
Nancy Mitford
Nancy Freeman-Mitford, CBE , styled The Hon. Nancy Mitford before her marriage and The Hon. Mrs Peter Rodd thereafter, was an English novelist and biographer, one of the Bright Young People on the London social scene in the inter-war years...
. They were married 34 years, and although they had no children born of their marriage, Linda conceived and miscarried.
Linda died from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
in the couple's apartment in the Waldorf Towers, leaving an estate of over one and a half million dollars in which Cole Porter had a lifetime interest. She was buried in the Porter family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, Indiana
Peru, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,994 people, 5,410 households, and 3,397 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,815.5 people per square mile . There were 5,943 housing units at an average density of 1,287.7 per square mile...
.
A one-woman show about Linda's life with Cole, Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter
Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter
Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter is a theatrical and musical adventure about the life of Linda Lee Thomas, the socialite wife of composer Cole Porter, starring jazz vocalist Stevie Holland...
, starring jazz vocalist Stevie Holland
Stevie Holland
Stevie Holland, is an American jazz singer, cabaret performer / actress and lyricist.Born in New York, she is married to composer Gary William Friedman, with whom she has collaborated on several recording projects and theater productions. Her solo albums include More Than Words Can Say and Restless...
, ran for two separate engagements starting October 29, 2009, and closing June 9, 2010, off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
at the Triad Theater.