Catherine Willis Gray
Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray Murat (August 17, 1803 – August 6, 1867) was an American socialite and preservationist. In 1858, she was appointed the first vice regent for Florida by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Together with Ellen Call Long, she raised significant funds for the acquisition and restoration of Mount Vernon. Catherine Murat was the great-grandniece of George Washington and was married to the former heir of the Kingdom of Naples, Prince Achille Murat.
Catherine Willis Gray
August 6, 1867 (aged 63)
Byrd C. Willis
Mary Lewis Willis
Early life[edit]
Catherine was born in Fredericksburg City, Virginia, on August 17, 1803. She was a daughter of Colonel Byrd Charles Willis (1781–1846) and his wife Mary (née Lewis) Willis (1782–1834), the granddaughter of Fielding Lewis, George Washington's brother-in-law. Through the Lewis family, she was also a relative of explorer Meriwether Lewis.[1]
Her parents made their first home in Orange near the Court House. Later they came to Willis Hill. Col. Willis paid little attention to the management of the plantation and instead spent his time fox hunting, racing, and attending parties. Income was derived from the race profits and the sale of fire wood.
Catherine's first husband, Atchison Gray, died less than a year after their marriage. She moved with her parents to Florida, and in 1826 she married Achille Murat.
Preservation[edit]
Catherine Murat became involved in the nation's first successful historic preservation project, the work to preserve George Washington's home. In 1858 she was appointed the first Vice Regent for Florida for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Vice Regent was the title given the principal person in each state in charge of organizing the association's work. Working closely with Ellen Call Long, she led the efforts as the state raised $3,791 toward the restoration of Mount Vernon, the largest per capita amount raised by any of the 30 contributing states.[2] Murat served in that post until her death. Despite her staunch Unionism, she was named master of ceremonies during the celebrations of the Florida Secession Convention in 1861. Later, during the American Civil War, Murat participated in the local "Soldiers Aid Societies," who met as sewing circles to clothe the southern troops.[3]