Walther von Mumm
Encyclopedia
Baron Walther von Mumm was a German
bobsledder who competed in the early 1930s. He finished seventh and last in the four-man event at the 1932 Winter Olympics
in Lake Placid, New York
.
Von Mumm was also a German Baron
who was the one-time "champagne king" of Rheims in France
.
The Baron was an aviation pioneer who went to the United States
in 1910 as a pilot of the French entry in the Gordon Bennett
International Balloon Race. While in the U.S., he met Frances Scoville, the daughter of a Seneca, Kansas banker; they were married three years later at St George's, Hanover Square, in London
. She died in 1920 leaving one daughter, Mary, who was educated at a school at Aiken
, South Carolina
. Mary later died in an automobile accident with her aunt, Louise Scoville Treadwell.
Between meeting and marrying Miss Scoville, Baron von Mumm became involved with and survived after being shot by Mrs. Marie Van Rensimer Barnes, in 1912 in her Paris apartment. Society barrister Oliver Bodington
represented Mrs. Barnes.
von Mumm returned to Germany at the outbreak of the War; his famous champagne winery having been confiscated by the French, Baron von Mumm sacrificed his prosperous 100-plus-year-old family business. After the War, he salvaged little of his fortune, and lost what remained in the 1929 Wall Street crash. Thus, the "Champagne King" saw his fortunes wither until he was living in a $10-a-week Manhattan rooming house.
In 1931, he tried to take his own life by shooting himself above the heart in the Long Island
home of his old friend William H. vim Roth. His suicide note read: "Bury me as I am and keep this out of the newspapers." But Baron von Mumm rallied and recovered.
Baron von Mumm's niece was prominent literary socialite, Elena Mumm Thornton Wilson, the 4th wife of Edmund Wilson
, renowned essayist and critic.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bobsledder who competed in the early 1930s. He finished seventh and last in the four-man event at the 1932 Winter Olympics
1932 Winter Olympics
The 1932 Winter Olympics, officially known as the III Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1932 in Lake Placid, New York, United States. The games opened on February 4 and closed on February 15. It would be the first winter olympics held in the United...
in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
.
Von Mumm was also a German Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
who was the one-time "champagne king" of Rheims in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The Baron was an aviation pioneer who went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1910 as a pilot of the French entry in the Gordon Bennett
Gordon Bennett
-People:*Gordon Bennett , Australian artist*Gordon Bennett , US Roman Catholic priest*Gordon Bennett , UK football coach*Gordon Bennett , Australian soldier...
International Balloon Race. While in the U.S., he met Frances Scoville, the daughter of a Seneca, Kansas banker; they were married three years later at St George's, Hanover Square, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She died in 1920 leaving one daughter, Mary, who was educated at a school at Aiken
Aiken
Aiken can refer to:*Aiken, Illinois*Aiken County, South Carolina** near Savannah River Plant *Aiken, South Carolina, Aiken County's county seat*The University of South Carolina Aiken*Aiken, Texas**Aiken, Bell County, Texas**Aiken, Floyd County, Texas...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Mary later died in an automobile accident with her aunt, Louise Scoville Treadwell.
Between meeting and marrying Miss Scoville, Baron von Mumm became involved with and survived after being shot by Mrs. Marie Van Rensimer Barnes, in 1912 in her Paris apartment. Society barrister Oliver Bodington
Oliver Bodington
Oliver Eaton Bodington , barrister at law of the Inner Temple, Licensee en Droit, University of Paris, Member of the United States Federal Bar and President of the British Chamber of Commerce, was born March 6, 1859 in Kingsford, Staffordshire, the son of George Fowler Bodington , a physician, and...
represented Mrs. Barnes.
von Mumm returned to Germany at the outbreak of the War; his famous champagne winery having been confiscated by the French, Baron von Mumm sacrificed his prosperous 100-plus-year-old family business. After the War, he salvaged little of his fortune, and lost what remained in the 1929 Wall Street crash. Thus, the "Champagne King" saw his fortunes wither until he was living in a $10-a-week Manhattan rooming house.
In 1931, he tried to take his own life by shooting himself above the heart in the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
home of his old friend William H. vim Roth. His suicide note read: "Bury me as I am and keep this out of the newspapers." But Baron von Mumm rallied and recovered.
Baron von Mumm's niece was prominent literary socialite, Elena Mumm Thornton Wilson, the 4th wife of Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson was an American writer and literary and social critic and noted man of letters.-Early life:Wilson was born in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father, Edmund Wilson, Sr., was a lawyer and served as New Jersey Attorney General. Wilson attended The Hill School, a college preparatory...
, renowned essayist and critic.