Elizabeth Parrish Starr (April 29, 1889 – 1943) was an American heiress who volunteered in Europe during both

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, dying from starvation at the end of the second.

Early life and education

Elizabeth (Elisabeth) Parrish Starr was born on April 29, 1889, at 1504 Walnut Avenue,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. Later, the family moved to 1818 South

Rittenhouse Square Rittenhouse Square is a public park in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is the center of the eponymous Rittenhouse neighborhood. The square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas ...

, Philadelphia. She was the daughter of Louis Starr (1849-1925), a doctor, who was one of the first to establish paediatrics as a branch and son of Isaac Starr, a banker, and Mary Parrish (1855-1928), a member of the

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

Society of the

Colonial Dames of America The Colonial Dames of America (CDA) is an American organization comprising women who descend from one or more ancestors who lived in British North America between 1607 and 1775, and who aided the colonies in public office, in military service, or ...

. Dillwyn Parrish, the American writer, illustrator, and painter, was a cousin. In 1907, she attended schools in Europe.

Career

In 1909, Starr became engaged with Stewart Robinson, the nephew of President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...

and a Harvard fellow student to Starr's brother Dillwyn. Soon afterward, Robinson died in a strange accident, falling down from a window dorm. In 1914, Starr's brother, Lieutenant Dillwyn Parrish Starr (1884-1916), joined the British Army as an officer in the 2nd

Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, monarchy; due to this, it often ...

. Starr joined the United States voluntary aid programme in Europe as a Volunteer Nurse and member of the French War Emergency Fund. In 1916, Dillwyn Starr died during the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme (; ), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 Nove ...

. Starr, Head of Reconstruction of the Civilian Section of the Somme region, was decorated by the French government with a silver medal, the ''Médaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise''. In 1921, Starr bought a castle that was actually an old country house, Castello San Peyre, at

Opio Souls of Mischief is a hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. The Souls of Mischief formed in 1991 and is composed of rappers A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai. History East Oakland n ...

. In 1934 she became friends with Winifred Fortescue, a British writer and actress, who would in the end move to Opio to live with Starr. Starr is ''Mademoiselle'' in Fortescue's books. They spent several years in Provence, and they made friends with an array of personalities: poet

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman, (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architect ...

; nobleman and aesthete

Edward Sackville-West Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville (13 November 1901 – 4 July 1965) was a British music critic, novelist and, in his last years, a member of the House of Lords. Musically gifted as a boy, he was attracted as a young man to a li ...

; and Starr's unrequited love,

Lady Caroline Paget Lady Alexandra Mary Cecilia Caroline Paget (15 June 1913 – 22 May 1973) was an English socialite and actress. Early life and family Lady Caroline was born Lady Alexandra Mary Cecilia Caroline Paget on 15 June 1913. She was the eldest child of ...

, immortalized in the painting by

Rex Whistler Reginald John "Rex" Whistler (24 June 190518 July 1944) was a British artist, who painted murals and society portraits, and designed theatrical costumes. He was killed in action in Normandy in World War II. Whistler was the brother of poet and ...

. At the beginning of

, Starr founded the ''Foyers des Soldats de France''. Later, Fortescue went back to England, to avoid the war, and gave lectures to raise funds to support France. Starr remained in France, at Castello San Peyre. She gave shelter to children, and provided what help she could. Towards the end of 1942, food was scarce and Starr became ill. She probably died at the beginning of 1943 from anaemia and malnutrition.

Death and legacy

Starr is buried in the little cemetery at Opio, where eight years later, her loyal friend Winifred Fortescue asked to be buried as well. Fortescue founded ''The Elisabeth Starr Memorial Fund for the Children of Provence'' in Starr's honour. ''Escape to Provence'' by Maureen Emerson is the story of Elisabeth Parish Starr and Winifred (Peggy) Fortescue.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Starr, Elizabeth Parrish 1889 births 1943 deaths American women civilians in World War I American women civilians in World War II People from Philadelphia 20th-century American people