Morton Downey (1901-1985)
John "Morton" Downey, of Palm Beach; Singer/Songwriter aka "The Irish Nightingale"
He was born in Connecticut (his grandparents were Irish immigrants) and began his singing career in New York City before achieving "superstar status," counting Bing Crosby among his back-up singers. He was perhaps best known for his rendition of Carolina Moon. He mixed in the same circles as Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin and when he retired (1961) to his mansion in Palm Beach he became a close friend of Rose Kennedy. He befriended Rose's husband, Joe Kennedy, and was a frequent guest at the White House during JFK's administration. His influential connections saw him become an executive shareholder with the Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
He married his first wife, Barbara, in 1929. She was one of the three famous Bennett sisters who were all Hollywood stars. They divorced in 1941. In 1950, he married Peggy, heiress to the Thompson mining fortune, stepdaughter of Gen. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle and former wife of Prince Alexander Hohenlohe, a Polish cavalry officer who went into business in New York. After she died, he married the widowed Mrs. Ann Trainer Van Gerbig in 1970, daughter of J.E. Trainer, Vice-President of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. He had two daughters and four sons including the controversial Morton Downey Jr.
He married his first wife, Barbara, in 1929. She was one of the three famous Bennett sisters who were all Hollywood stars. They divorced in 1941. In 1950, he married Peggy, heiress to the Thompson mining fortune, stepdaughter of Gen. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle and former wife of Prince Alexander Hohenlohe, a Polish cavalry officer who went into business in New York. After she died, he married the widowed Mrs. Ann Trainer Van Gerbig in 1970, daughter of J.E. Trainer, Vice-President of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. He had two daughters and four sons including the controversial Morton Downey Jr.
