Known as a great beauty of the stage, Minnie Ashley's talents as a singer and dancer emerged in a musical "1492" in 1892. Just as she gained stardom infrared necrosis of her eyes caused by prolonged exposure to theatrical arc lights caused her sight to degrade. In 1902 she quit the stage, married politician William Astor Chanler (the wealthy grandson of John Jacob Astor). Fearing the loss of her eye site she took to sculpting work. Chanler and Ashley separated amicably in 1909 when William decided to reside in Paris while Ashley remained in America to raise Chanler's two sons.In 1911 she attempted a comeback under the name Beatrice Ashley Chanler. In her later life she became a philanthropist.
Known as a great beauty of the stage, Minnie Ashley's talents as a singer and dancer emerged in a musical "1492" in 1892. Just as she gained stardom infrared necrosis of her eyes caused by prolonged exposure to theatrical arc lights caused her sight to degrade. In 1902 she quit the stage, married politician William Astor Chanler (the wealthy grandson of John Jacob Astor). Fearing the loss of her eye site she took to sculpting work. Chanler and Ashley separated amicably in 1909 when William decided to reside in Paris while Ashley remained in America to raise Chanler's two sons.In 1911 she attempted a comeback under the name Beatrice Ashley Chanler. In her later life she became a philanthropist.
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