Clara MacBeth
Undated photo of MacBeth
Born
Clara Louise MacBeth

1870 or 1871
Died (aged 99)
Known forLiving on a cruise ship for 14 years

Clara Louise MacBeth (1870 or 1871 – February 10, 1970) was an American heiress and long-term passenger on cruise ships. In 1971, the Guinness World Records listed her as the "Most Indefatigable Cruise Passenger". For 14 years, she lived on the RMS Caronia between 1949 and 1963. It cost her $396 in daily fare to live on the ship with her traveling companion Madoline Frank. Without accounting for inflation, Cunard Line received $4 million from her in tickets.

An only child, MacBeth was born to James and Elizabeth MacBeth. Her father made his fortune through inventing a dynamite detonator. He owned a large amount of real estate in Brooklyn and Queens, and stock in Long Island Bond and Mortgage Guarantee Company. After her father died in 1929, MacBeth inherited $719,788 (equivalent to $13,900,000 in 2022) from him. After her mother died in 1933, she inherited $708,391 (equivalent to $16,000,000 in 2022) from her. MacBeth served on the board of directors of the Long Island Bond and Mortgage Guarantee Company in 1931.

MacBeth died at the age of 99 in 1970. She left an $11 million estate (equivalent to $82,900,000 in 2022), two-thirds of which she bequeathed to her long-time financial adviser Henry Hottinger, and one-third of which she donated to the New York Community Fund. She gave $300,000 (equivalent to $2,300,000 in 2022) in a trust to her traveling companion, Madoline Frank, and $20,000 (equivalent to $151,000 in 2022) to her Caronia waiter.

Early life and family

Clara Louise MacBeth[1] was born in 1870 or 1871 to James and Elizabeth MacBeth and was an only child.[2][3] She was a student of the gymnasium proprietor Avon C. Burnham and participated in a drama performance at Criterion Theatre in 1895.[4] Joined by an organist, she recited the tale of "The Tramp", a performance the Brooklyn Citizen stated was "excellently done" and The Brooklyn Daily Eagle said was "loudly applauded".[1][5][6] At the Christian Endeavor society's strawberry festival in 1897 at the Rochester Avenue Congregational church, MacBeth performed recitations that The Brooklyn Daily Eagle called "spirited and pleasant".[7]

Her father invented a dynamite detonator, which made him wealthy.[2] He died in Jamaica, Queens at Hotel Whitman in 1929 on November 14 or November 17.[8][9] Having earlier been the chair of the Jamaica-based Long Island Bond and Mortgage Guarantee Company, he was its chairman at the time of his death and owned a large amount of stock in the company as well as substantial real estate in Brooklyn and Queens.[9][10] He bequeathed $1,467,076 (equivalent to $28,200,000 in 2022) to relatives and friends; most of his estate was split between his wife and daughter with each receiving a share of $719,788 (equivalent to $13,900,000 in 2022).[10][11] Having inherited his shares in the company, Clara MacBeth was a member of the Long Island Bond and Mortgage Guarantee Company's board of directors in 1931.[12] Her mother, Elizabeth MacBeth, died at Hotel Whitman, on September 2, 1933, leaving $708,391 in her estate (equivalent to $16,000,000 in 2022) that largely came from her husband's bequest. Aside from giving her nephew and brother-in-law $5,000 each, a chauffeur $2,000, and some other relatives $12,500 altogether, Elizabeth gave the rest of her assets to Clara.[8][13][14]

Living on cruise ships

In 1908 and 1909, MacBeth joined her parents on the Hamburg America Line ship SS Moltke when it visited Asia.[15][16] She was a passenger on RMS Franconia's 1935 Southern Hemisphere world cruise.[17] She lived on the RMS Caronia between 1949 and 1963, a span of 14 years.[18][19] The daily cost of living on the ship for her and Madoline LaBelle Frank, the widow who joined her, was $396.[2][20][21] Without accounting for inflation, Cunard Line received $4 million from her in tickets.[22] While living on the ship, the fares approximately cost MacBeth $20 million, according to a 2013 book.[23] MacBeth visited Moore-McCormack's SS Brasil, where she met her traveling companion Madoline Frank's daughter and son-in-law Esther and Stanley Yurgartis, who worked onboard respectively as a waitress–cabin attendant and chief boatswain.[2]

During the North Cape itinerary, the crew anointed her the "ice queen" at a party.[22] MacBeth rarely left the ship when it reached a port.[24] Asked whether she would visit Sydney when the ship docked there, she replied, "I visited Australia in 1949. I don't think I'll bother getting off again."[25] During her time on the ship, her cabin steward and waiter remained constant and she stayed in the same room.[24][26]

In June 1969, she was on the SS Statendam on an itinerary that included Tilbury, Torquay, Glengariff, and New York.[27] In July 1969, MacBeth stayed on the Queen Elizabeth 2 for four back-to-back sailings.[21] The 1971–1972 copy of the Guinness World Records listed MacBeth as the "Most Indefatigable Cruise Passenger".[21][28] In his 2006 book, the maritime historian William H. Miller called her "the all-time record holder for cruising".[29]

Death and estate

MacBeth died on February 10, 1970, at 99 years old.[30] At the time of her death, she owned an apartment located on One Fifth Avenue in Lower Manhattan in New York City.[30] She had spent little time at the apartment as for 70 years, she boarded various cruise ships.[30] She created a will on December 17, 1954, to distribute her $11 million estate (equivalent to $82,900,000 in 2022).[30] MacBeth gave two-thirds of her money to her long-time financial adviser Henry Hottinger, praising him in the will for giving "invaluable and friendly suggestions" regarding her finances.[30] The New York Community Fund received one-third of her funds.[30] She gave her long-time traveling partner, 68-year-old Madoline Frank, $300,000 (equivalent to $2,300,000 in 2022) in a trust.[30] Annually for the rest of Frank's life, $15,000 (equivalent to $113,000 in 2022) would be distributed to her.[30] In her will, MacBeth gave her RMS Caronia waiter $20,000 (equivalent to $151,000 in 2022).[31]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "A. C. Burnham's Pupils. They Give an Enjoyable Entertainment at the Criterion". Brooklyn Citizen. March 13, 1895. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Former Resident to Receive $15,000 Yearly for Life". The Post-Star. February 28, 1970. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Deaths: MacBeth—Elizabeth". New York Herald Tribune. September 4, 1933. p. 11. ProQuest 1222051526.
  4. ↑ "Recital in the Criterion". The Standard Union. March 11, 1895. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Burnham's Entertainment. An Evening of Recitals at the Criterion Theater". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 17, 1895. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "At the Criterion Theater. Mr. A. C. Burnham's Pupils Entertained Their Friends". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 17, 1895. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "C. E. Entertainment". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 26, 1897. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Elizabeth Macbeth Estate Is Placed at $827,774 Net Value. Bulk of Fortune Goes to a Daughter — Chauffeur Is Included as Legatee". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 13, 1934. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 "MacBeth Leaves Estate to Widow". Brooklyn Times-Union. November 21, 1929. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "MacBeth Estate Totals $1,467,076". Brooklyn Times-Union. January 5, 1931. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Estates Appraised". Brooklyn Times-Union. January 6, 1931. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Guarantee Firm Building Ready. L. I. Bond and Mortgage Co. to Move Into Jamaica Home Wednesday". Brooklyn Times-Union. May 3, 1931. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "MacBeth Estate Is $708,391 Net. Mortgages and Notes Comprise Largest Assets; W. H. Parkinson Left $279,048". Brooklyn Times-Union. June 13, 1934. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "H.E. Shirk Left $10,000 Estate". Brooklyn Times-Union. September 15, 1933. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "On Summer Trips Abroad". Brooklyn Times-Union. June 11, 1909. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "The Travelers". Brooklyn Life. February 1, 1908. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Two Hundred Passengers on Franconia See Hawaii" (pages 1 and 2). Hawaii Tribune-Herald. February 2, 1935. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2022-10-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Amon, Rhoda (February 23, 2003). "Here's the Life: Retire to a Ship, Meals Included". Newsday. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Amon, Rhoda (February 9, 1997). "Cruise Lines Still Woo Older Crowd". Newsday. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Kreiss, Margaret (April 14, 1971). "Pencil Me In". Sacramento Bee.
  21. 1 2 3 "Hard-to-believe facts fill new record book". The Chicago Defender. March 9, 1971. ProQuest 494292988.
  22. 1 2 Miller, William H. (2008). Under the Red Ensign: British passenger ships of the '50s & '60s. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7524-4619-6. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  23. ↑ Crossley, Harley (2013) [2009]. From Ocean Liner to Cruise Ship: The Marine Art of Harley Crossley. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4456-2345-0. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google Books.
  24. 1 2 Deitch, Joseph (January 20, 1991). "New Jersey Q&A: William H. Miller; Recalling the Heyday of Ocean Liners". The New York Times. ProQuest 108584775. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  25. ↑ Harding, Maria (January 25, 2002). "Oh, no, not Hong Kong again; Who chooses round-the-world cruises? Maria Harding heaves her wardrobe on board the QE2 to find out". Evening Standard. p. 63. ProQuest 329571737. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  26. ↑ Miller, William H. (1985). The Last Atlantic Liners. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 31. ISBN 0-85177-320-6. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  27. ↑ "Today in the World: Tilbury". Bristol Evening Post. June 21, 1969. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ McWhirter, Norris; McWhirter, Ross (1971) [1962]. Guinness Book of World Records (10 ed.). New York: Sterling Publishing. p. 392. ISBN 0-8069-0004-0. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  29. ↑ Miller, William H. (2006). Doomed Ships: Great Ocean Liner Disasters. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. p. 82. ISBN 0-486-45366-9. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Adviser Is Left Two Thirds of $11M Estate". New York Daily News. February 26, 1970. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ Robertson, Michael (August 2, 1983). "Some facts about the QE II". San Francisco Chronicle.
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