Pamela Harriman

Pamela Harriman (20 March 1920–5 February 1997) was a Washington, D.C. socialite, diplomat and celebrity.

Related Topics:
20 March - 1920 - 5 February - 1997 - Washington, D.C.

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She was born Pamela Beryl Digby in Farnborough, Hampshire, England, the daughter of Edward Kenelm Digby, 11th Baron Digby of Geashill and his wife Constance Pamela Alice, née Bruce.

Related Topics:
Farnborough - Hampshire - England - Edward Kenelm Digby

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At age seventeen she was sent to a Munich boarding school for six months, writing later that she had been introduced to Adolf Hitler by Unity Mitford at that time. In 1939 she went to work at the Foreign Office in London doing French to English translations.

Related Topics:
Munich - Adolf Hitler - Unity Mitford - 1939 - Foreign Office - London - French - English

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When being shown a flat to rent, the phone rang and she answered it. It was Randolph Churchill, who asked her to dinner: within ten days they were engaged and a week later, on 4 October 1939, were married. Randolph decided to improve her education by reading Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire to her in bed. Within months, she became pregnant, and went to live with her in-laws at 10 Downing Street. Two days after Randolph took his seat in the House of Commons, their son Winston was born.

Related Topics:
Randolph Churchill - 4 October - 1939 - The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - 10 Downing Street - House of Commons - Winston

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Randolph's gambling debts required the sale of their wedding presents and for Pamela to be employed: she took a job in the Ministry of Supply. This was Pamela's first experience with debt. She miscarried a second pregnancy, attributing it to stress.

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She was introduced to Averell Harriman and began an affair which led ultimately to her 1946 divorce from Randolph and friction between him and his parents, whom he maintained had condoned the affair.

Related Topics:
Averell Harriman - 1946

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