- Born
- Died
- Nicknames
- Gordon Bennett Jr.
- Gordon Bennett
- James Gordon Bennett Jr. was born on May 10, 1841 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Great International Automobile Race for the Gordon-Bennett Trophy (1904), A Terrific Race (1903) and Start of the Gordon-Bennet Cup Race (1903). He was married to Maud Potter (Baroness de Reuter). He died on May 14, 1918 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France.
- SpouseMaud Potter (Baroness de Reuter)(1914 - May 14, 1918) (his death)
- ParentsJames Gordon Bennett Sr.Henrietta Agnes Bennett
- Bennett often scandalized society with his flamboyant and sometimes erratic behavior. In 1877, he left New York for Europe after an incident that ended his engagement to socialite Caroline May. According to various accounts, he arrived late and drunk to a party at the May family mansion, then urinated into a fireplace (some say grand piano) in full view of his hosts. Bennett's controversial reputation is thought to have inspired, (in Britain), the phrase "Gordon Bennett!" as an expression of incredulity.
- James Gordon Bennett Jr. was publisher of the 'New York Herald', founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as 'Gordon Bennett' to distinguish him from his father. Among his many sports-related accomplishments he organized both the first polo match and the first tennis match in the United States, and he personally won the first trans-oceanic yacht race. He sponsored explorers including Henry Morton Stanley's trip to Africa to find David Livingstone, and the ill-fated USS Jeannette attempt on the North Pole.
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