Ben Ali Haggin

James Ben Ali Haggin III (20 April 1882 – 2 September 1951) was an American portrait painter and stage designer.

Life A grandson of the multi-millionaire James Ben Ali Haggin, he was born in New York City. After extensive education, he began exhibiting his paintings formally in 1903. The National Academy of Design awarded him the 1909 Third Hallgarten Prize for his painting Elfrida. He married Margaret Faith Robinson on 4 November 1903 at the Church of the Transfiguration, New York.

In 1914, several major events occurred in Haggin's life. He separated from his wife and spent time in a sanitarium. His grandfather also died that year, and Haggin inherited a reputed $10 million from the estate.

In 1916, Haggin married Helen Roche from Roxbury, Boston, an actress and dancer known professionally as Bonnie Glass. She secured a Mexican divorce from Haggin in 1928. Gallery