Mary Astor Paul

Mary Astor Paul Munn Allez (March 26, 1889 – July 28, 1950) was a Philadelphia socialite who was related to the Astor and Drexel families. During World War II, she helped the American forces in France.

Mary Paul Munn Allez
Born
Mary Astor Paul

March 26, 1889
Radnor, Pennsylvania
DiedJuly 28, 1950
Paris, France
Spouse(s)
Charles Alexander Munn Jr.
​
(
m. 1909; div. 1930)

Jacques Allez
​
(
m. 1934; her death 1950)
Children4
Parent(s)James W. Paul, Jr.
Fanny Drexel Paul
RelativesWilliam Waldorf Astor (uncle)
Anthony J. Drexel (grandfather)
Anthony Biddle Sr. (cousin)
Charles A. Munn III (grandson)
AwardsMedal of Freedom
Légion d'honneur

Early life

Mary was born on March 26, 1889 and raised in Radnor, Pennsylvania.[1] She was the daughter of James William Paul Jr. (1851–1908) and Frances Katherine "Fanny" (née Drexel) Paul (1858–1901). Her siblings were Ellen Drexel (née Paul) Mills and Anthony Joseph Drexel Paul. Her father was a banker affiliated with the Drexel interests in Philadelphia and the Morgan interests in New York.[2]

Her paternal grandparents were James William Paul and Hannah Clement (née Bunker) Paul. Her aunt, Mary Dahlgren Paul, was married to William Waldorf Astor (who moved to England and became the 1st Viscount Astor). Her cousins included Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (husband of Nancy Astor, the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons), Hon. Pauline Astor (wife of politician Herbert Spender-Clay), and John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever. Her maternal grandparents were Anthony Joseph Drexel and Ellen (née Rozet) Drexel. Among her large extended family was uncle Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr. and cousins Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Sr.[3] and Margaretta Armstrong Drexel (wife of Guy Finch-Hatton, 14th Earl of Winchilsea).[4]

Personal life

She was presented to society in 1907 and on October 28, 1908, her engagement to Charles Alexander Munn Jr. was announced. Then a student at Harvard, Munn was a son of Charles Alexander Munn and Carrie Louise (née Gurnee) Munn. They were married on June 21, 1909, at St. Martin Episcopal Church in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Many members of society were present, including the Drexel and Roosevelt families.[5] After their marriage, the couple lived at Woodcrest, their residence in Radnor, until they sold it in 1925. After the sale, the couple sailed to France, intending on living there for a decade. However, Mary filed for divorce in 1930, citing abandonment.[6] Before their divorce, they had four children together, three daughters and a son, including:

  • Pauline Munn (1909–1939), who married Milton Dorland Doyle of New York, in Cap Ferrat, France in 1931.[7] The marriage was a tumultuous one, and after twice filing and then dismissing divorce charges, they divorced in 1938.[8] She died in France the following year.[9]
  • Charles Alexander Munn (1913–1957),[10] who served with the United States Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1941. At that time, he married Louise Stanley, the actress, in New York City.[11][12] He later married Loretta Strauff in 1950.[13]
  • Mary Munn (1915–2013), a still life painter who married Frederick Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon at the American Cathedral in Paris.[14][15] Lord Dunacannon succeeded as the 10th Earl of Bessborough in 1956 and she became the Countess of Bessborough.
  • Frances Drexel Munn (1917–2012), who married George F. Baker (1915–1977),[16] son of banker George Fisher Baker, in New York City in 1938.[17] They divorced in 1958;[18] he later committed suicide in 1977.[16]

In 1917, she was drawn by John Singer Sargent and, in 1929, she was painted by Philip de László.[19] After their divorce, she remarried to Jacquez Eami Adrien Allez (1894–1963) in 1934. In 1953, her first husband remarried to Dorothy Spreckels (daughter of Sugar tycoon Adolph B. Spreckels and his wife, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels).[20]

She died in Paris on July 28, 1950 and was buried at cemetery in Mortefontaine.[2]

World War II involvement

During World War II, she served the United States Military in a large role. She served as president of the American Aid Society in Paris. During the French resistance movement, she helped contact the American forces under the code name "Pauline."[2] Speaking of her service, Mme. Allez said that her contacts were throughout France, and consisted of people from all walks of life and occupations. She was also in personal contact throughout the war with the American Legation in Berne, Switzerland, and Robert Murphy, the United States Consul.[2]

The President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, awarded Mme. Allez the American Medal of Freedom for her service. At the same time, French President Vincent Auriol made her a chevalier of the Legion of Honor.[2]

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References
  1. "Miss Mary Astor Paul to Wed". New York Times. October 29, 1908. ProQuest 96835871.
  2. "MRS. ALLEZ IS DEAD; HEROINE IN WAR, 61; Leader in French Resistance Network, Once Prominent in Philadelphia Society Father Known as Banker". The New York Times. 30 July 1950. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. "The Theater: New Plays in Manhattan". Time magazine. December 3, 1956. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  4. Times, Wireless To the New York (18 June 1946). "LORD WINCHILSEA, DREXEL KIN, WEDS; 15th Earl Marries in London Mary A. Conroy, Daughter of Fruit Merchant". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. Times, Special to The New York (22 June 1909). "MISS MARY ASTOR PAUL WEDS.; Niece of Late Mrs. William Waldorf Astor Marries Charles A. Munn". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. "MRS. MUNN ASKS DIVORCE.; Two Other Americans Involved in Paris Applications". The New York Times. 11 January 1930. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  7. "PAULINE MUNN WED TO MILTON D. DOYLE; New Yorkers Are Married at Villa Isoletta, Eze, France, by the Rev. Clayton Williams. SOCIETY LEADERS ATTEND James Cromwell Best Man and W. K. Vanderbilt Jr. a Witness at Earlier Civil Ceremony". The New York Times. 21 August 1931. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (4 February 1938). "MRS. PAULINE DOYLE SUES; Asks Divorce in Florida After Dropping Two Previous Suits". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  9. TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (10 June 1939). "MRS. PAULINE MUNN DOYLE; Descendant of Anthony J. Drexel Dies in Neuilly, France". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  10. "CHARLES A. MUNN JR". The New York Times. 6 September 1957. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. "LOUISE STANLEY WEDS; Actress Becomes the Bride of Lt. Charles A. Munn Jr., U.S.N.R." The New York Times. 28 August 1942. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  12. "Marriages". Billboard. September 5, 1942. p. 25. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  13. "LORETTA P. STRAUFF WED; She Is Married in Baltimore to Charles Alexander Munn Jr". The New York Times. 19 March 1950. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. "MISS MARY MUNN ENGAGED TO PEER; She Will Be Bride of Viscount Duncannon, Son of Former Canadian Governor General". The New York Times. 11 August 1948. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. "MISS MARY MUNN WED; Bride in Paris of Lord Duncannon--1,000 Attend Reception". The New York Times. 30 September 1948. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  16. "George F. Baker Jr., New York Socialite, Found Fatally Shot". The New York Times. 12 December 1977. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  17. "GEO. F. BAKER JR. TO WED MISS MUNN; Troth of Philadelphia and Palm Beach Girl to New Yorker Is Made Known HE IS HARVARD STUDENT Grandson of Philanthropist and Banker-Fiancee Member of a Banking Family Her Family Prominent His Grandfather in Many Banks". The New York Times. 21 February 1938. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  18. Times, Special to The New York (19 April 1958). "G. F. BAKERS DIVORCED; Sealed Settlement of Property Filed in Trial at Reno". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  19. "Catalogue | Works in Public Collections | Allez, Mrs Jacques, née Mary Astor Paul; other married name Mrs Charles A. Munn | The de Laszlo Archive Trust". www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  20. "CHARLES A. MUNN MARRIES; Weds Dorothy Spreckels at His Home in Palm Beach, Fla,". The New York Times. 5 February 1953. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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