17 Facts About Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden, known as Elizabeth N Graham, was a Canadian-American businesswoman who founded what is Elizabeth Arden, Inc.

Elizabeth Arden was the sole owner, and at the peak of her career, she was one of the wealthiest women in the world.

Elizabeth Arden was born Florence Nightingale Graham on her family's farm in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth Arden played with her birth date, but although her birth record seems to have disappeared, census records and a statutory declaration by her older brother, William Pearce Graham, both put the date at 1881.

Elizabeth Arden's parents had immigrated to Canada from Cornwall, United Kingdom, in the 1870s.

Elizabeth Arden then worked for Eleanor Adair, an early beauty culturist, as a "treatment girl".

Elizabeth Arden was allegedly a dedicated suffragette, and there is a story that she marched for women's rights in 1912.

Elizabeth Arden chose the last name, "Arden", from a nearby farm.

In 1912, Elizabeth Arden traveled to France to learn beauty and facial massage techniques used in the Parisian beauty salons.

Elizabeth Arden returned with a collection of rouges and tinted powders that she had created.

Elizabeth Arden began expanding her international operations in 1915 and started opening salons across the world.

Elizabeth Arden was largely responsible for establishing makeup as proper and appropriate, even necessary, for a ladylike image; previously makeup had often been associated with lower classes and prostitutes.

Elizabeth Arden targeted middle-aged and plain women for whom beauty products promised a youthful, beautiful image.

Elizabeth Arden was involved in the sport of Thoroughbred racing for many years.

Elizabeth Arden was married to Thomas Jenkins Lewis and to Prince Michael Evlanov.

Elizabeth Arden died at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan on October 18,1966.

Elizabeth Arden was interred in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York, under the name Elizabeth N Graham.