Daisy Polk (April 23, 1874 in St. Louis, Missouri – January 20, 1963 in Paris, France[1]) was an American woman who became Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeure after marrying French Army General Marie Joseph Louis Robert de Buyer.

Polk was a prominent woman from San Francisco (she was the sister of architect Willis Polk and related to President Polk[2]). Active in the American relief effort during World War I, she was assigned the reconstruction of the French village of Vitrimont,[3] with monies supplied by Mrs. Crocker of San Francisco; Vitrimont was the first of a number of villages restored with American aid.[4] She and de Buyer met by chance in Vitrimont in 1916: when her car broke down, de Buyer offered his assistance; a year later they were married,[5] in September.[6] Her husband had been in command of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. In 1915 he became commander of the Third Cavalry Corps (France), and a year later of the Second Army Corps (France).[5][7] He retired in 1917.[8] The wedding was attended by such notables as General Pétain.

In 1920, Polk was named a Legion Chevalier.,[9][10]

In the 1930s, Comtesse de Buyer-Mimeure, a well-known public figure,[11] was active with the Catholic Sewing Circle in Passy.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Daisy Polk De Buyer-Mimeure (1874-1963)". Find A Grave. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. ↑ French, Janie Preston Collup (1918). Notable Southern Families, Vol. 1. Lookout. p. 179.
  3. ↑ "Frenchman Weds American: Miss Daisy Polk Was in Charge of Reconstructing Vitrimont". The Spokesman-Review. 20 September 1917. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  4. ↑ McDonald, William (1922). Reconstruction in France. Macmillan. p. 283.
  5. 1 2 "Miss Polk now a Countess: Her French Soldier Husband is Count de Buyer Mimeuse" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 September 1917. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  6. ↑ O'Shaughnessy, Edith (1918). My Lorraine Journal. Harper & Brothers. p. 162.
  7. ↑ "Double Program at Insull Farm War Benefit Tomorrow". Chicago Daily Tribune. 21 September 1917.
  8. ↑ "General, Wedded, is Now Retired". Los Angeles Times. 23 September 1917. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "California Girl, Wife of French General, is Legion Chevalier". Chicago Daily Tribune. 22 September 1920. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Recherche - Base de données Léonore".
  11. ↑ Birkhead, May (4 December 1932). "Americans Attend a Service in Paris; Annual Thanksgiving Ceremony at Church of Madeleine an Impressive Event. Exhibitions are Feature; Aeronautic and Marine Salons Lend Added Interest to the Capital -- Society Sees La Argentina". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Birkhead, May (17 December 1933). "Americans Attend Paris Sewing Circle; Comtesse de Bayer-Mimeare Entertains Society Women at Passy Chateau". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
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