Huntington Hartford

Huntington Hartford was an American heir, businessman, and prominent patron of the arts. The grandson of George Huntington Hartford, who co-founded the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P), he used his substantial inheritance to fund a wide array of cultural and business ventures. His life was marked by ambitious projects in publishing, theater, and art museums, as well as a famously lavish lifestyle and multiple marriages. Despite financial setbacks, his philanthropic efforts left a distinct, if controversial, imprint on mid-20th century American culture.

Early life and family

George Huntington Hartford II was born on April 18, 1911, in New York City to Edward V. Hartford and Henrietta Guerard Pollitzer. He was the primary heir to the fortune amassed by his grandfather, George Huntington Hartford, through the A&P grocery chain. He was educated at the prestigious St. Paul's School and later attended Harvard University, though he left before graduating to pursue business interests. His family's wealth placed him among the elite of Gilded Age America, providing the capital that would fund his future endeavors. The Hartford fortune was one of the largest in the United States, rivaling those of the Rockefellers and the Carnegies.

Business career and A&P inheritance

Upon coming into his inheritance, Hartford embarked on a series of business investments and ventures beyond the family's supermarket empire. He served as a director of A&P but was more actively involved in projects that reflected his personal interests. He purchased and attempted to revitalize the iconic Paradise Island in The Bahamas, developing the Ocean Club resort. He also invested in New York City real estate and founded the short-lived but glossy magazine Show. His business acumen was often questioned, as several of his ventures, including a costly foray into Broadway production, resulted in significant financial losses, gradually depleting his fortune.

Art patronage and cultural ventures

Hartford's most enduring passion was for the arts, leading him to become a significant, if contentious, figure in the cultural world. In 1964, he realized a long-held dream by opening The Huntington Hartford Museum of Modern Art in a distinctive building at 2 Columbus Circle in New York City. Designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, the museum was intended as a conservative counterpoint to the Museum of Modern Art and its embrace of abstract expressionism. He also founded the Gallery of Modern Art and was a major benefactor to institutions like the Hollywood Museum. His artistic tastes, favoring representational work over avant-garde movements, frequently put him at odds with the critical establishment.

Personal life and later years

Hartford's personal life was as colorful and well-publicized as his business affairs. He was married four times, most notably to actress and artist Marjorie Steele and to socialite Diane Brown. His lifestyle was one of extraordinary opulence, maintaining lavish homes in New York City, Los Angeles, and The Bahamas. In his later decades, he faced severe financial difficulties, leading to the sale of many assets, including his art collection and his interests in Paradise Island. He spent his final years in relative seclusion at Lyford Cay in Nassau, where he died on May 19, 2008.

Legacy and philanthropy

Despite the volatility of his fortunes, Huntington Hartford's legacy is cemented by his substantial, if idiosyncratic, cultural philanthropy. The building he commissioned at 2 Columbus Circle remains a noted part of Manhattan's architectural history, later housing the Museum of Arts and Design. His development of Paradise Island was instrumental in transforming The Bahamas into a major tourist destination. While many of his artistic ventures were not financially sustainable, they reflected a deeply personal attempt to shape the cultural landscape, leaving behind physical landmarks and a complex story of wealth, aspiration, and patronage in 20th-century America.

Category:American art collectors Category:American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:1911 births Category:2008 deaths