Died June 7, 1958 | Name Tadd Roosevelt Grandparents James Roosevelt I | |
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Parents James Roosevelt Roosevelt, Helen Astor Roosevelt Cousins Anna Roosevelt Halsted, Franklin Delano Roosevel, John Aspinwall Roosevelt, James Roosevelt, Elliott Roosevelt Similar People Franklin D Roosevelt, James Roosevelt I, Caroline Webster Schermer, William Backhouse Astor - Jr, Sara Roosevelt | ||
Siblings Helen Roosevelt Robinson | ||
James Roosevelt "Tadd" Roosevelt Jr. (August 20, 1879 – June 7, 1958) was an American heir and automobile worker.
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Early life
James Roosevelt Roosevelt Jr. was born on August 20, 1879. He was the son of diplomat James Roosevelt "Rosey" Roosevelt (1854–1927) of the Roosevelt family and Helen Schermerhorn Astor (1855–1893) of the Astor family. He had a sister, Helen Rebecca Roosevelt (1881–1962). His uncles were President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) and Colonel John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV (1864–1912). He was only three years older than Franklin. Tadd's paternal grandparents were businessman James Roosevelt I (1828–1900) and Rebecca Brien Howland (1831–1876) while his maternal grandparents were businessman William Backhouse Astor Jr. (1829–1892) and socialite Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn (1830–1908).
He and Franklin both attended Groton School and Harvard University, with Tadd being ahead of Franklin. Their kinship led to Franklin often being mockingly referred to as "Uncle Frank" while the two attended Groton together.
Career
Tadd inherited $1,500,000 (equivalent to approximately $39,983,333 in 2016 dollars) from his mother in 1893.
Personal life
Roosevelt married Hungarian-born prostitute Sadie Messinger (c. 1880–1940) on June 14, 1900. Tadd's father Rosey, upon learning of the wedding, came down from Hyde Park and brought Tadd home. Their union sparked controversy, and Rosey ended up disowning Tadd.
In February 1917, Tadd was arrested in Florida and required to stay in Florida pending a divorce suit. He had lived in Daytona under the name "M. S. King" with another woman. The Roosevelt family had reportedly opposed the marriage to Sadie and had prevailed in achieving a separation, in which Sadie was to receive a $10,000 (equivalent to $186,935 in 2016 dollars) annual income. A court soon granted $625 (equivalent to $11,683 in 2016 dollars) per month alimony to Sadie, pending settlement of the divorce. At the time, Tadd was reported to be the Floridian paying the highest income taxes, having a $12,000,000 fortune (equivalent to $224,322,078 in 2016 dollars).
By October 1921, Tadd and Sadie were reportedly no longer living together. However, they remained married until her death. They never had children.
Death
Roosevelt died on June 7, 1958. His fortune was donated to the Salvation Army.