by Kimberly Keagan
September 15, 2022​
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Jennie Jerome, the mother of Sir Winston Churchill, was born in 1854 to Leonard Jerome, a New York financier, and his wife, Clara. Leonard was well known, both the United States and Europe, for his colorful nature and extravagant spending.

The Jerome mansion on 32 East Twenty Sixth Street, New York, circa 1877. Source: Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress

In early 1867, Leonard Jerome’s flamboyant ways would be the fodder for newspapers in both the United States and Britain, beginning with an interesting wager as reported by the Daily Eastern Argus on January 10th:
 

A Millionaire as a Circus Rider— Mr. Leonard Jerome, the millionaire sportsman of New York, has undertaken, as his last exploit, for a heavy wager, standing on the bare backs of two horses, to drive four-in-hand round Jerome Park. The feat will be attempted in a few days, and excites much interest.

Several weeks later, Jerome made a curious donation to Princeton in February in which he bestowed upon the University $5,000 to present, annually, a medal for the graduate who shall be voted “the first gentleman” by his classmates. The Pall Mall Gazette found great amusement in the benevolence and used the opportunity to poke a little fun at Americans:

Mr. Leonard Jerome is the leader of fashion in New York, his portrait hangs in the windows of the Broadway picture dealers; he has a theatre attached to his house with an eau-cologne fountain sparling in its centre; not to be acquainted with Mr. Jerome is much the same as it is here not to have been “presented”. Now the prominent men of wealth (we do not say leaders of fashion, because there is so little fashion that one leader is sufficient for all purposes) in America are expected to spend some of it for the public welfare, and almost all of them do. Mr. Peabody is the princely representative of a large class of benevolent millionaires. Mr. Jerome therefore presented a racehorse to the city of New York, and has now bestowed upon Princeton College the sum of £1,000, with the annual interest of which is to be purchased a medal for the graduate who shall be voted by his classmates “the first gentleman” of them all. This phrase elicited a howl of indignation form the New York Tribune, because “it reminds one of that anointed blackguard and fat incarnation of selfishness, George IV.” The gift is certainly a curious one, and seems to indicate that a section at least of New York society recognizes the fact that American manners are deficient in courtesy and refinement. Among the general body of the people there is indeed an ostentatious affection of brusqueness and uncouthness; they would rather not be thought ungentlemanly. However, that is a little weakness which will pass away in time; though it may be doubted whether Mr. Jerome’s medal will do much towards it. The Princeton lads will be sure to choose the most popular graduate among them, without reference to his style of apparel, speech or expectoration.

And just one month later, Leonard was embroiled in a financial scandal involving the cornering of Pacific Mail stock. As reported in The Buffalo Commercial on March 19, 1867:

Rumors have been current for some days in New York of the failure of Leonard Jerome. The Sunday News says, “We have every reason to believe that rumor, as is frequently the case, is wrong in the matter, and that Mr. Jerome will have no difficulty in meeting his engagements. We have only referred to the subject in order to express the hope which, we are sure, we share in common with all our citizens, that no such calamity as failure will ever overtake Mr. Jerome.

​Apparently, the rumors were true and on the 22nd of March, the Leavenworth Daily Commercial reported:

Leonard W. Jerome, the extravagant banker of New York, has lost over a million dollars by wild speculations, but his reported failure is rather premature.

​Once news was out of Jerome’s financial calamity, other peculiar and expensive habits became common knowledge. The Chicago Tribune waded into the rumor mill with an article on March 24, 1867 (reprinted from the Cincinnati Commercial) :

Talking of Leonard W. Jerome reminds me of one or tow of his private social receptions and several other families if the city, showing how New York Society amuses itself—or has amused itself during the winter. Mr. Jerome has a private theatre in his residence, and frequently amuses himself and friends by private theatricals. Max Maretzek, burned out last year at the Academy of Music, has had a large opera company on his hands—a big load to stagger under. First to help Maretzek, and secondly to amuse a large number of especially invited guests, Mr. Jerome lately engaged Maretzel’s whole company and gave several concerts in his private theatre at a nightly expense of $1,700!  There wasn’t a word in the papers about it—reporters not being admitted. A short time before he gave a dinner at his place in Westchester County, to which the guests repaired by special train, at a cost to the host of $3,000.

Not reported in the papers, but widely known among New York elite, Leonard was a womanizer. His philandering ways made life for his wife, Clara, difficult. In 1867, she insisted Leonard purchase an apartment for herself and their daughters in Paris. This decision would be the impetuous for launching her three girls into European society.
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