Alva Erskine Belmont (January 17, 1853 – January 26, 1933), née Alva Erskine Smith, also called (1875–96) Alva Vanderbilt, was a prominent multi-millionaire American socialite and a major figure in the women's suffrage movement. Known for having an aristocratic manner that antagonized many people, she was also noted for her energy, intelligence, strong opinions, and willingness to challenge convention. She was married first to William Kissam Vand...
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Alva Erskine Belmont (January 17, 1853 – January 26, 1933), née Alva Erskine Smith, also called (1875–96) Alva Vanderbilt, was a prominent multi-millionaire American socialite and a major figure in the women's suffrage movement. Known for having an aristocratic manner that antagonized many people, she was also noted for her energy, intelligence, strong opinions, and willingness to challenge convention. She was married first to William Kissam Vanderbilt, with whom she had three children, and secondly to Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. She died on 26 January 1933 in Paris, France.
Alva Smith was born on 17 January 1853 in Mobile, Alabama. Her parents were the moderately wealthy Murray Forbes Smith, a commission merchant, and Phoebe Desha, daughter of Robert Desha, a former US Representative and General in the War of 1812.
Alva was the youngest of four children, though her two sisters, Alice and Elenor, both died as children before she was born. The only sibling that she ever knew was her...
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