Nobel Prize-winning laureate Ernest Hemingway's eldest son Jack Hemingway was not as well known as his father. However, he did carry the legacy of the Hemingways and made his own impact on his fields of work. Unlike his father, who wrote short stories, Jack enjoyed a bit of sportsmanship.
As his father was a world-famous writer, Jack Hemingway too was expected to follow in his footsteps and become a writer himself. But the eldest child chose to leave his own legacy behind and is now commemorated for his own achievements. So, let us look at the life of Ernest Hemingway's son.
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Childhood In Paris And An Absent Father
John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 10, 1923. He was the eldest child of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. The early years of his life were spent in the city of love, Paris, and the Austrian Alps. Unfortunately, Jack Hemingway's parents separated when he was five, and he was their only child together.
Although his parents' marriage ended, Jack's father remarried and his two half-siblings were born soon after. Jack's half-brothers, Gregory Hemingway and Patrick Hemingway are from his dad's marriage to Pauline Pfeiffer. However, the true nature of the relationship between the siblings is not known. Moreover, John was whisked away to boarding schools and did not spend much time at home.
Nicknamed Bumby by his mother due to him having a big teddy bear quality, Jack Hemingway is said to have been of good nature and helpful too like his mom. However, he resembled his father the most but reportedly did not spend much time with him. As John Hadley had been enrolled in boarding schools for most of his childhood, he rarely met any of his family members.
Ernest Hemingway was an absent father and could hardly make time for his son due to his busy schedule. Nevertheless, the writer would do his best to spend some time with his eldest son. The father-son duo would head out on fishing trips and boxing. Jack Hemingway certainly did cherish his travels with his dad as he later became a professional angler.
Sadly, Jack Hemingway's father passed away in 1961 as he took his own life. The death of the laureate only brought more recognition to the family. Moreover, as he died by suicide, the mental health of the lineage was severely questioned.
Jack Hemingway Net Worth And Career
Being the son of Ernest Hemingway meant the angler lived under his shadow for the entirety of his life. However, Jack Hemingway's net worth must have been significant, mostly because he must have earned a significant amount from his autobiography and business ventures.
And while Jack's father left behind $1.4 million in the gross estate, its sole beneficiary was Ernest's fourth wife, Mary Welsh Hemingway. Mary reportedly received $1 million from the estate. It is unclear if any of Hemingway's children received a portion of his fortune after Mary Welsh's death in 1986.
Jack Hemingway joined the army in the 1940s after dropping out of the University of Montana and Dartmouth College before obtaining his degree. While in the military, the soldier managed to reach the position of captain and even fought in World War II. However, he soon retired and lived a life away from violence.
After retiring from the army, Jack Hemingway worked as a stockbroker and ventured into sales of fishing supplies. He was an excellent angler and made a profession out of his passion.
Last but not least, Jack wrote two autobiographies and helped complete the memoir of his father after his demise. His autobiographical books are entitled A Life Worth Living: The Adventures of a Passionate Sportsman and Misadventures of a Fly Fisherman: My Life With And Without Papa. The books sell from $6 to $20 on Amazon.
While the book A Life Worth Living was published posthumously, it must have helped increase Jack Hemingway's net worth. Jack's fortune might have been inherited by his children.
Two Marriages, Three Children, And Demise
Coming from a well-known family meant constant media attention around the life of Jack Hemingway. People were always interested to know what was happening in his life and many expected Jack to become like his father and be a womanizer of some sort. However, the writer was a very devoted family man and would not do anything notorious.
The Wives Of Jack Hemingway
Jack Hemingway married his first wife, Byra Louise Whittlesey, in June of 1949. The wedding was said to be an extravagant affair with many A-listers of the time in attendance. The couple lived a blissful life together and had three beautiful daughters.
Sadly, Jack Hemingway's wife, Byra succumbed to cancer in 1988. The sportsman was devastated about his wife's death and would go to look for comfort elsewhere. Not long after his first wife's passing, Jack Hemingway remarried Angela Holvey in 1989. The couple remained together until Jack's death.
Jack Hemingway's Three Daughters
Jack Hemingway was a faithful man, unlike his father, a womanizer. There were no controversies about him cheating on his wives, and he remarried only after the passing of his first spouse. Moreover, Jack is known to have had children with only his first wife during his lifetime.
Jack and Byra had three wonderful daughters. Joan Whittlesey Hemingway aka Joan Hemingway is their eldest child, and she prefers to live a quiet life away from the public. Their second daughter Margot Louise Hemingway or Margaux Hemingway was a successful model and actress. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 40 due to a drug overdose, which was later ruled as suicide.
Jack Hemingway had been married twice in his lifetime and had three daughters with his first wife. He has no children from his second marriage. Image Source: Mariel's Instagram.
Lastly, the late couple had their youngest daughter, actress, and fitness enthusiast, Mariel Hemingway.
All three daughters of Jack Hemingway paved their own paths in life. They have been successful in their own fields. However, they have not been free of all controversies.
In 2013, Jack Hemingway's daughter, Mariel did accuse him of sexually assaulting her two sisters. But the allegations have not been proved as Joan never came forward to talk about it.
The Demise Of Jack Hemingway
The Hemingway family has been marred with mental health problems and suicide for a long time. After losing his father and daughter, it must have been hard for the veteran to cope. Nevertheless, he pushed on and had a peaceful life up until his death.
Hemingway suffered from heart problems during his middle age. The angler had a heart attack when he was 44 and thus has complications for the remainder of his life. In addition, the writer had had heart surgery in New York City in 2000.
Sadly, John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway passed away on the cold first day of December 2000 at the New York Presbyterian Hospital due to complications. His demise was mourned by many.
Furthermore, Jack Hemingway was laid to peace at the Ketchum Cemetary in Idaho beside his first wife, father, daughter, and half-brother. Thus, at the ripe age of 77, the world bid goodbye to a Nobel Prize winner's son.
Trivia:
- Jack Hemingway's youngest brother Gregory was announced as transsexual named Gloria Hemingway by Times after his death.
- The Germans captured the angler during World War II.
