Marguerite Courtright Patton

Marguerite Boggs Courtright Patton (February 5, 1889 – June 3, 1971) was an American civic leader and anti-communist who served as the 21st President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution from 1950 to 1953.

Early life Patton was born Marguerite Boggs Courtright on February 5, 1889, in Circleville, Ohio, to Judge Samuel W. Courtright and Jean Martin Courtright. She went on to serve as Ohio DAR State Vice Regent, State Regent, and First Vice President General. She and her administration were sworn in on April 21, 1950, in Washington, D.C. At the national society's 61st Continental Congress that year, Patton advocated for national defense phases and questioned foreign policy proceedings with Asian countries, including the United Nations' intentions with Korea, the Communist government in China, the exiled nationalist Chinese government in Taiwan, and the possibility of Communism spreading throughout Burma and Indo-China. She advocated for a nonpartisan survey to be administered on the matter and referred to the spread of Communism as "big scale Red invasions."

During her term as president general, Patton introduced the observance of national defense night at Continental Congress, toured multiple military training centers, and had air raid drills and fire drills performed regularly at DAR Headquarters. Following the end of her term, she served as Chairwoman of the National Defense Committee from 1953 to 1956.

Personal life and death On July 4, 1911, she married James B. Patton, an official with Ritter Lumber Company. They had two sons, James and Robert, who were both members of the Children of the American Revolution. The family moved to New Jersey in 1916 and then to Columbus, Ohio in 1922.

She died on June 3, 1971, and was buried in Forest Grove Cemetery.