Madeleine Ives Goddard, Marquise d'Andigné (July 1, 1874 – March 31, 1931) was an American socialite and nurse, who became the Marquise d'Andigné upon her marriage in 1906. In France, she continued her interest in nursing, and was decorated for her contributions during World War I.

Early life

Madeleine Ives Goddard was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 1, 1874. She was one of three children born to

Robert Hale Ives Goddard Robert Hale Ives Goddard (September 21, 1837 – April 22, 1916) was a prominent banker, industrialist, U.S. Army officer, state senator and philanthropist. Early life He was born in Providence, Rhode Island on September 21, 1837. He was a son ...

(1837–1916) and Rebecca Burnet (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Groesbeck) Goddard (1840–1914), a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father was a banker and industrialist, and a veteran of the Union Army in the American Civil War. Her older brother, William Groesbeck Goddard, died young, and her younger brother, Robert Hale Ives Goddard Jr., married Margaret Hazard (granddaughter of Rowland G. Hazard) and was involved with Brown & Ives, the family investment firm. Her paternal grandparents were Charlotte Rhoda (née Ives) Goddard (daughter of Thomas P. Ives) and William Giles Goddard, a

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

alumni and professor who owned and published the ''Rhode Island American'' newspaper. Her cousin was yachtswoman

Hope Goddard Iselin Edith Hope Goddard Iselin (January 17, 1868 – April 5, 1970) was an American heiress and sportswoman who was the first American woman to compete as a crew member in the America's Cup yacht race. She also owned thoroughbred racehorses. Early ...

. Her maternal grandparents were Elizabeth (née Burnet) Groesbeck (daughter of Judge

Jacob Burnet Jacob Burnet (sometimes spelled Burnett) (February 22, 1770May 10, 1853) was an American jurist and statesman from Ohio. He served as a U.S. Senator. Early life Burnet was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Dr. William Burnet. He graduated ...

) and

William S. Groesbeck William Slocum Groesbeck (July 24, 1815 – July 7, 1897) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1857 to 1859. Early life Groesbeck was born in Kinderhook, New York, on July 24, 1815. He ...

, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Cincinnati. Although she was "one of the richest of the American heiresses", she was "not fond of society or social functions"; instead, she studied violin, enjoyed sports, and trained as a nurse.

Philanthropy

In France, the Marquise d'Andigné used her nursing training to volunteer during World War I. With several other American women in Paris, including

Elizabeth Beers-Curtis Elizabeth Beers-Curtis de Talleyrand-Périgord, Marquise de Talleyrand (November 12, 1847 March 30, 1933) was an American heiress who married into the French aristocracy. Early life Elizabeth "Bessie" was born on November 12, 1847 in Paris. She ...

and

Mary Alsop King Waddington Mary Alsop King Waddington (April 28, 1833 – June 30, 1923) was an American author. She particularly wrote about her life as the wife of a French diplomat. Early life Mary was born in New York City, New York on April 28, 1833 the daughter o ...

, she co-founded and was president of Le Bien-être du Blessé, a national organization of volunteers, purchasing and delivering supplies to hospitals near the front, and building and staffing hospital kitchens. Her wealthy contacts in the United States helped to raise funds, especially the organization's American president, writer Gertrude Atherton. Cooperation with the

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...

added useful expertise. Madame d'Andigné was decorated for heroism, and received the Legion d'Honneur for her wartime service. In 1927, with her brother, she gave Rhode Island Goddard Memorial State Park, a state park along the shores of Greenwich Cove and Greenwich Bay in Warwick, Rhode Island, in memory of their father.

Personal life

Goddard turned away several notable suitors until 1905, when she met René d'Andigné, the Marquis d'Andigné, while motoring in France. René was the son of General the Marquis d'Andigné, a cavalry commander in the Franco-Prussian War who became one of the political leaders of France. They married on December 29, 1906 at Hopeton House, her family's home in Providence. Her husband died in 1929. She died from cancer in 1931, aged 56 years, at her brother's home in Providence, Rhode Island. In her will, she left $100,000 to the Rhode Island Foundation, "for the relief of incurables." The Marquise d'Andigné Fund continues into the 21st century, supporting people with Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and other diagnoses in Rhode Island.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Goddard, Madeleine Ives 1874 births 1931 deaths People from Providence, Rhode Island American women nurses American women in World War I French marchionesses Recipients of the Legion of Honour 20th-century American people Nurses from Rhode Island