Who Was the Real Molly Brown?

Margaret "Molly" Brown (née Tobin) (July 18, 1867 – October 26, 1932) was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous due to her survival of the 1912 sinking of the RMD Titanic, after exhorting the crew of Lifeboat No. 6 to return to look for survivors. 

Born to Irish-Catholic immigrants in Hannibal, Missouri, she moved to Leadville, Colorado at age 18.  She met James Joseph (J.J.) Brown soon after and they married on September 1, 1886.  She was 19.  He was 31.  They had two children.  In 1893, J.J. discovered gold in the Little Johnny Mine. The owners of the Little Johnny rewarded the Browns with significant shares in their company, the Ibex Mining Company, and the Browns became millionaires.

The Browns moved to Pennsylvania Avenue in Denver, CO in 1894, where Margaret became active in social reform. She unsuccessfully ran for the senate in 1901, breaking gender rules and opening doors to larger political issues that she would actively pursue for the next 20 years.

In 1909, after 23 years of marriage, the Browns quietly signed a separation agreement.  Now more independent than ever, Margaret departed on a trip to Egypt, Rome and Paris with her daughter Helen, and friends J.J. and Madeleine Astor, in 1912. However, news of her ill grandson hastened Margaret’s return, and she booked passage on the first available ship, the Titanic. 

Today, her name is known around the world and her Titanic fame has grown. Her character has appeared in stage productions, classic films and blockbuster historical dramas.

To learn more about Margaret "Molly" Brown, a number of resources are available.  We encourage you to learn more about this fascinating woman and her extraordinary life.

Resource

www.mollybrown.org