Fish, Marian (1853–1915)

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Fish, Marian (1853–1915)

American society leader. Name variations: Marian Graves Anthon or Marian Graves Anthon Fish, Mamie Stuyvesant Fish; Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish. Born Marian Graves Anthon, June 8, 1853, in Staten Island, NY; died May 25, 1915, at Glenclyffe, Garrison-on-Hudson, NY; dau. of William Henry Anthon (prominent criminal lawyer, died 1875) and Sarah Attwood (Meert) Anthon; m. Stuyvesant Fish (son of Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State to US President Grant), June 1, 1876; children: 3 sons, 1 daughter.

Known for her caustic wit and fondness for practical jokes, gave winter dinner parties in New York City at her home in Gramercy Park (1890s) and on 78th Street (after 1900); threw weekend house parties during spring and fall at the family property, Glenclyffe, in Garrison-on-Hudson, NY; entertained at her house Crossways at Newport (RI) every season (beginning 1889), becoming part of highly fashionable society; became famous for vibrant parties, with entertainment provided by such celebrities as Marie Dressler and Vernon and Irene Castle; supported women's strike for the wrapper and kimono industry and visited Lower East Side tenements, but with-drew because of publicity (1913).