- Bennett often scandalized society with his flamboyant and sometimes erratic behavior. In 1877, he left New York for Europe after an incident that ended his engagement to socialite Caroline May. According to various accounts, he arrived late and drunk to a party at the May family mansion, then urinated into a fireplace (some say grand piano) in full view of his hosts. Bennett's controversial reputation is thought to have inspired, (in Britain), the phrase "Gordon Bennett!" as an expression of incredulity.
- James Gordon Bennett Jr. was publisher of the 'New York Herald', founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as 'Gordon Bennett' to distinguish him from his father. Among his many sports-related accomplishments he organized both the first polo match and the first tennis match in the United States, and he personally won the first trans-oceanic yacht race. He sponsored explorers including Henry Morton Stanley's trip to Africa to find David Livingstone, and the ill-fated USS Jeannette attempt on the North Pole.
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