LEANDER MCCORMICK-GOODHART (1884-1965)

I don't like to make mistakes, but I enjoy correcting mistakes that come to my attention. This week I had to correct the listing for Leander McCormick-Goodhart in American Numismatic Biographies (ANB). He was the author of a reference on Admiral Vernon medals.

When Leander McCormick-Goodhart died, an obituary was carried in papers around the country.

The (New York) Daily News for Saturday, December 18, 1965, reported on page 21:

The Detroit Free Press for Sunday, December 19. 1965, reported on page 56:

The Philadelphia Inquirer of Saturday, December 18, 1965, reported on page 10:

My listing for him in American Numismatic Biographies stated:

This week a descendant pointed out an error to Len Augsburger who passed the information on to me.

To clarify, let's begin with Robert Sure McCormick, Jr. (1780-1864). He was born in Walnut Grove, Virginia, which was not a "Little House on the Prairie." He made various inventions including an early version of a reaper. He encouraged his oldest son, Cyrus Hall McCormick (1809-1884), to improve upon the reaper and had it patented in 1834. This became the foundation for the International Harvester Company.

But enough about Cyrus, Robert's sixth child was Leander James McCormick (1819-1900). He was married to Henrietta Maria Hamilton (1822-1899). He enlarged his wealth through real estate investments.

They had a daughter, Henrietta Laura McCormick (1857-1932) who married an Englishman, Frederick Emanuel Goodhart (1854-1924). They were married in November 1883. Both came from wealthy families. In 1899 they were granted a name change and used the hyphenated name, McCormick-Goodhart. They were the parents of Leander McCormick-Goodhart (1884-1965), born on August 10, 1884.

Thus, Leander McCormick-Goodhart was a grand nephew of Cyrus McCormick and not his great-grandson.

Leander attended Eton College and Oxford and mastered seven languages. During the First World War, he served on the Admiralty War Staff. Later he was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of commander.

He came to America in 1921 to work as commercial secretary at the British Embassy.

He married Janet Sherman Phillips (1909-1956) in 1928. At the time of their marriage, he was 44 and she was 19. They had a son and a daughter and were divorced in 1952.

Later on August 10, 1952, he married an Australian, Nita Emma Kloeden (1916-1993). At the time of their marriage, he was 68 and she was 36. Their son, Leander Paul, was born in 1955 and daughter Henrietta was born in 1958 when Leander was 74.

His parents had an estate at Langley Park, Maryland. By 1948, Lender's family lived at a twenty-five acre estate called Bellepais. It was located on the Mount Vernon Memorial Parkway overlooking the Potomac River in Virginia. The estate was frequently opened for social events.

   

 

He joined the ANA in October 1923 as member 2566. In 1925 he contributed to a numismatic exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum.

He served on the Maryland State Tercentennial Commission in 1934.

During the Second World War, he was supervisor of American relief to Great Britain until his retirement in 1942. A book of his poetry, "Gentle Shafts" was published in 1942. He also published books on family genealogy.

He was the author of a 44-page booklet, Admiral Vernon Medals published by Numismatic Review in 1945. The Numismatist reported that his collection included 255 of the 270 known Admiral Vernon medals. Dick Johnson met McCormick-Goodhart and reported that he had more than 10,000 pieces and about 1000 different. Also, his collection of metal sculptures of Shakespeare was among the finest in the world.

He was awarded the Knighthood of the Order of St. John in 1955. He served on the Advisory Committee of the Virginia 350 th Anniversary Commission in 1957. He held many other positions with charitable organizations. He was honorary vice president of the Audubon Society, Middle Atlantic Chairman of the National Council. Metropolitan Opera. He was trustee of the Naval Historical Foundation and president of the Society for the Preservation of American Musical Heritage. As president of the British Commonwealth Cricket Club, he hosted many cricket games at his estate, Bellepais.

He died of a heart attack on December 15, 1965, while riding to a meeting of the Steamship Historical Society at the Washington Navy Yard. He is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Naturally, his listing on the FindaGrave site states that he was a great grandson of Cyrus McCormick.

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