Sharman Douglas
Encyclopedia
Sharman Douglas was an American
socialite known for her friendship with the British royal family, in particular Princess Margaret
.
She was the only daughter of chemicals heiress and philanthropist
Peggy Zinsser (d. 1992) and politician Lewis W. Douglas (d. 1974) who served as Arizona
congressman
, director of the Bureau of the Budget from 1933 until 1934, and U. S. ambassador to the Court of St. James's
from 1947 until 1950. It was during these three years in England that she developed her friendship with Princess Margaret and the royal family.
At various times in her life, "Charmin' Sharman," as she was known during her father's tenure as ambassador, worked as a talent agent, a movie publicist, and a public-relations agent. In 1966, New York City
mayor John Lindsay
named her New York's Commissioner of Public Events.
Linked romantically to the Marquess of Blandford
and the Marquess of Milford Haven
in the 1950s, she also reportedly had a two-year relationship with the United Kingdom
's Princess Margaret, according to "Margaret: The Secret Princess," an ITV
program broadcast in Britain
in February 2003.
Sharman Douglas married Andrew MacKenzie Hay, a food importer, in 1968. They divorced in 1977.
Her first cousin Josalee Douglas was the first wife of Count Jean-François de Chambrun, who later married Raine, Countess Spencer, the former stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
Sharman Douglas died of bone cancer at New York Hospital
in 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialite known for her friendship with the British royal family, in particular Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
.
She was the only daughter of chemicals heiress and philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
Peggy Zinsser (d. 1992) and politician Lewis W. Douglas (d. 1974) who served as Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, director of the Bureau of the Budget from 1933 until 1934, and U. S. ambassador to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
from 1947 until 1950. It was during these three years in England that she developed her friendship with Princess Margaret and the royal family.
At various times in her life, "Charmin' Sharman," as she was known during her father's tenure as ambassador, worked as a talent agent, a movie publicist, and a public-relations agent. In 1966, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mayor John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
named her New York's Commissioner of Public Events.
Linked romantically to the Marquess of Blandford
John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, DL, JP , is the son of Lt.-Col. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. His principal seat is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire...
and the Marquess of Milford Haven
David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven
David Michael Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven , styled Viscount Alderney before 1921 and Earl of Medina between 1921 and 1938, was the son of the 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven and Countess Nadejda de Torby....
in the 1950s, she also reportedly had a two-year relationship with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Princess Margaret, according to "Margaret: The Secret Princess," an ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
program broadcast in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in February 2003.
Sharman Douglas married Andrew MacKenzie Hay, a food importer, in 1968. They divorced in 1977.
Her first cousin Josalee Douglas was the first wife of Count Jean-François de Chambrun, who later married Raine, Countess Spencer, the former stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Sharman Douglas died of bone cancer at New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
in 1996.
Sources
- The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Sharman Douglas:Obituary, Feb. 12, 1996 - Sharman Douglas obituary, New York Times, Feb. 8, 1996