Alva Vanderbilt Belmont

Alva Belmont
Alva E. Belmont sometime during 1911, aged 57–58.
Born	Alva Erskine Smith (1853-01-17)January 17, 1853 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Died	January 26, 1933(1933-01-26) (aged 80) Paris, France
Cause of death	Bronchial and heart ailments
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	William Kissam Vanderbilt (m. 1875; div. 1895) Oliver Belmont (m. 1896; his death 1908)
Children	Consuelo Vanderbilt William Kissam Vanderbilt II Harold Stirling Vanderbilt
Relatives	Robert Desha (grandfather)

Alva Belmont (January 17, 1853 – January 26, 1933), née Alva Erskine Smith — known as Alva Vanderbilt from 1875 to 1896 — was a prominent multi-millionaire American socialite and a major figure in the women's suffrage movement. Known for having an aristocratic manner that antagonized some people, she was also noted for her energy, intelligence, strong opinions, and willingness to challenge convention. On Equal Pay Day April 12, 2016, President Barack Obama established the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C. to preserve critical American history and honor all of those who fought and continue to fight for gender equality including Alva Belmont and Alice Paul.

She was married first to William Kissam Vanderbilt, with whom she had three children, and secondly to Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. Alva was known for her many building projects including, Petit Chateau in New York, the Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island, the Belmont House, also in New York, Brookholt in Long Island, and Beacon Towers in Sands Point, New York.

Alva Erskine Smith was born on January 17, 1853 at 201 Government Street in Mobile, Alabama to Murray Forbes Smith, a commission merchant, and Phoebe Ann Desha. Murray Smith was the son of George Smith and Delia Forbes of Dumfries, Virginia. Phoebe Desha was the daughter of US Representative Robert Desha and Eleanor Shelby, both originally from Sumner County, Tennessee.