Princess Julia Grant Cantacuzène, 1924 (Image Courtsey Library of Congress)
During the season of 1899, the William Waldorf Astor family was summering in Europe and rented their Bellevue Avenue cottage “Beaulieu” to Chicago socialite and philanthropist Mrs. Potter Palmer. On September 23rd, she hosted the wedding of her niece Julia Grant to Major General Prince Michael Cantacuzène of Russia. The Russian Orthodox ceremony was performed in a specially built chapel next to the main salon. The American ceremony took place at All Saint’s Episcopal Chapel on Old Beach Road ten days later.
Julia Grant was born in the White House in 1876 when her grandfather Ulysses S. Grant was President. Prince Michael was commander in chief of the Russian army under Grand Duke Nicholas and later led the last great cavalry charge of 15,000 Cossacks against the Austrians after having been shot. Michael and Julia fled to Sweden during the revolution and eventually settled in Sarasota, Florida, and were subsequently divorced.