Elliott Shepard

Elliott Fitch Shepard Jr. (1876 — April 10, 1927) was an American racing driver, who competed in several early motor races. One of his sisters was Alice Vanderbilt Shepard.

Early life

Shepard was born in 1876 to Elliott Fitch Shepard, Sr. and Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard, eldest daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam. Shepard was educated at Yale University and graduated in 1898. He later studied at Harvard University.^[1]

Shepard married Esther Potter, a 25 year old widow, in a civic marriage in April 1897. A religious ceremony followed at the insistence of Shepard's mother, after which the newlyweds left for Europe. Shepard went into business in Paris, but was unsuccessful. He briefly returned to the USA with his wife, but they separated and in August 1902, she filed for absolute divorce.^[2] Shepard again returned to Paris, and made several more attempts as opening businesses, all of which were again unsuccessful.

Shepard knocked down and killed a 12 year old girl, Madeline Marduel, on April 27, 1905. A trial followed, and on October 26 the judge sentenced Shepard to three months imprisonment, a $120 fine and he was ordered to pay $4,000 in damages to the girls' parents.^[3] Shepard appealed the decision, and the case was eventually settled in January 1907, with a reduced sentence of six weeks imprisonment. After nine days in Fresnes prison, Shepard was pardoned after paying a further $2000.

Career

Racing

In the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup, a race started in 1904 by his cousin, William Kissam Vanderbilt II, Shepard lost control of his Hotchkiss HH car and hit two spectators who were killed in the incident.^[4] Unaware of what had happened, Shepard continued until reaching the service area at East Norwich. Here he learnt from his mechanic that his car may have collided with someone, and a telephone call to the race organisers confirmed what had happened. Upon hearing this, Shepard withdrew from the event.

Shepard was injured in 1907 when he drove into a river in Monte Chiarl after a tire on his car became detached and sent the car bouncing over the bridge railing moving a further five yards into the river. He broke his collarbone with other slight injuries to his body.^[5]

World War I

During World War I, Shepard worked in a hospital for American voulnteers for the French army in Chantilly, France. His work helped him to receive the Knight of the Legion de Honneur, the Croix de Guerre and the American Field Service Medal.^[1]

References