Biography.guide
Home › People › Art collector › Martha Mercer, née Dana
Portrait of Martha Mercer, née Dana

Martha Mercer, née Dana

1872 – 1960

US art collector and philanthropist

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Martha Mercer, née Dana

Lived 1872 – 1960 (aged 87). Martha Mercer, née Dana was an American art collector, philanthropist and socialite.

Martha Mercer, née Dana (1872–1960) was a US art collector and philanthropist.

She was the daughter of Charles Stratton Dana of the Dana family of Boston. She became friends with Isabella Stewart Gardner who arranged for her to have her portrait painted by Anders Zorn in 1899.

She married the artist William Robert Mercer of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, who was the brother of Henry Chapman Mercer. Together they designed and built Aldie Mansion in the Tudor revival style, today owned by the Heritage Conservancy of Bucks County. The couple had twins in 1910 who died within a year. Her husband died in 1939 and Martha split her legacy into three equal parts, forming the Martha Dana Mercer Trust. She gave to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Arnold Arboretum (in the name of her father), and the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston. Dana Mercer gave her portrait by Zorn to the museum in 1928. The museum also has another painting formerly in her collection, Man on Horseback by Gerard ter Borch.

Mercer is buried near her parents in Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Also known as
Martha Dana, Mrs. William Robert Mercer, Martha Isabella Dana Mercer

People in Martha Mercer, née Dana's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Martha Mercer, née Dana's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Martha Mercer, née Dana?

US art collector and philanthropist (1872-1960)

When was Martha Mercer, née Dana born?

Martha Mercer, née Dana was born on 21 May 1872.

When did Martha Mercer, née Dana die?

Martha Mercer, née Dana died on 21 February 1960 in Doylestown.

What was Martha Mercer, née Dana's occupation?

Martha Mercer, née Dana was an art collector, philanthropist and socialite.

What nationality was Martha Mercer, née Dana?

Martha Mercer, née Dana was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Martha Mercer, née Dana

· Wikidata: Q33131176

· DBpedia: Martha Dana Mercer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Martha Mercer, née Dana. https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/

MLA: "Martha Mercer, née Dana." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/.

Chicago: "Martha Mercer, née Dana." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/martha-mercer-nee-dana/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:33 UTC