Latest news with #ElsieVenner
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Coldplaygate: Astronomer HR head Kristin Cabot and her links to ‘Boston Brahmins'
Kristin Cabot, who was spotted at a Coldplay concert canoodling with Andy Byron, former CEO of the firm Astronomer and her boss, is part of an elite 'Boston Brahmin' family in Massachusetts. But who are these 'Boston Brahmins'? And how is Kristin linked to them? read more Today, 'Boston Brahmins' are usually found living in posh areas like Beacon Hill and adhering to their dress code – which is known around the world as 'preppy'. Image courtesy: NewtonCourt Kristin Cabot has been in the spotlight these past few days. Cabot was spotted at a Coldplay concert canoodling with Andy Byron, former CEO of the firm and her boss. While a couple being on a 'kisscam' at a rock concert is no big deal, the problem is that Cabot and Byron were cheating on their spouses. Cabot and Byron have both been mercilessly taken to task over the past few days. a, while Kristin thus far has not. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cabot, interestingly, is by marriage part of the wealthy Cabot family – who themselves are in the 'Boston Brahmins'. But who are the 'Boston Brahmins'? What do we know about them? Let's take a closer look: Who are they? The term 'Boston Brahmins' was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Holmes, who was a famous author and poet, used the phrase in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner. It refers to the crème de la crème of Boston society – the moneyed, educated elite. Holmes in his book referred to these families as 'The Brahmin caste of New England'. This was a pointed reference to India and the caste system prevalent here at the time. Ironically, Holmes' son Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. These Massachusetts families could be identified by a few things. Firstly, by their roots. They were nearly all descended from the Puritans – who came over from England to the 'new world' in the 1600s to escape religious persecution. Second, they made their fortune as merchants and financiers. These families attend the same schools and colleges, particularly Harvard, and usually marry each other. They have names such as Cabot, Adams, Coffin, Eliot, Emerson, Endicott, Forbes, Gardner, Holmes, Lawrence, Lowell, Otis, Parkman, Peabody, Phillips, Putnam, Quincy, Weld, Wigglesworth, and Winthrop. They are known for their philanthropy and infamous for having their own British-sounding dialect. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They like to think of their city as the 'Athens of America'. They, above all, value culture and education. The term 'Boston Brahmins' was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Image courtesy; Armstrong & Co There are only two ways of becoming a 'Boston Brahmin' – being born into such a family or marrying into it. Those belonging to 'Boston Brahmin' families must be mentioned in the newspaper at birth, when getting married and at death. The 'Boston Brahmins' have long been the subject of fascination for historians and authors. This is as much for their traditions as their place in American pop culture. However, not everyone is enamoured of them. Harriet Martineau, a sociologist who visited Boston in the 1830s, remarked that they were 'perhaps as aristocratic, vain, and vulgar a city, as described by its own 'first people,' as any in the world.' Martineau said their ideals and philosophies stood opposed to egalitarian ideals and inclusive citizenship. It must also be noted that the 'Boston Brahmins' fought to keep immigrants out of America. They founded the Immigration Restriction League in 1894 – which sought to bar the Irish and impose a literacy test for newcomers – and the puritanical Ward Society. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, they also founded a number of fine institutions including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Essex and Isabella Stewart Gardner museums, WGBH, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Athenaeum. Their influence began to fade with the arrival of Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants. Today, they are usually found living in posh areas like Beacon Hill and adhering to the 'Boston Brahmin' dress code – which is known around the world as 'preppy'. What do we know about the Cabots? Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, the sixth-generation owner of spirits firm Privateer Rum. The firm was founded by his ancestor – also named Andrew Cabot (1750-1791). Andrew was a merchant, rum distiller and successful American privateer during the American Revolution. The Cabots are an extremely high-profile 'Boston Brahmin' family. According to the New York Post, a local poem regarding their status in society goes thus – ''And this is good old Boston, the home of the bean and the cod, the Lowells talk only to Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God". Their wealth initially came from the 'carbon black" industry, which is critical in tyre manufacturing. They were also involved in shipping and various other industries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, they also made some of their money in the slave and opium trade. In 1972, the Cabot family's fortune was estimated at $200 million. Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot. Image: Astronomer That would be worth $15.4 billion today. The family has donated to Harvard University, MIT, Norwich University, and the Perkins School for the Blind. Kristin and her husband Andrew live in a $2.2 million house in Massachusetts. She joined Astronomer, a US data analytics firm, as Chief People Officer. She has two decades of experience in her field. She has also served as advisory board member for Privateer Rum since September 2020. Kristin was previously married to Kenneth C Thornby. She filed for divorce from Thornby in 2018. The marriage ended in 2022. Astronomer initially attempted damage control, saying in a statement, 'Although our visibility may have shifted dramatically overnight, our offerings and dedication to our clients remain unchanged". However, Byron resigned as CEO of Astronomer over the weekend, while Kristin has been put on leave. Byron's wife Megan Kerrigan removed his surname from her social media accounts including Facebook. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Astronomer's HR Head Kristin Cabot is married in a Boston Brahmin family: Who are Boston Brahmins brought into light by Coldplay controversy
A simple 'kiss cam' clip from Coldplay's concert in the Greater Boston area recently led to a storm of viral videos, capturing ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR Head Kristin Cabot embracing each other. Coldplay lead Chris Martin called out at the displayed video of the couple, and ever since then, social media and online platforms have been full of memes and content around them. The fallout from the concert has opened a window into a world about which most people outside Massachusetts rarely hear, where tradition can matter just as much as money. One of those names is Cabot. For generations, the Cabot family has been part of America's old elite, a kind of modern-day aristocracy that usually stays out of the spotlight. But this viral moment has brought the name into the spotlight. Kristin is married into the Cabot family, one of Boston's oldest and most influential lineages. Her husband, Andrew Cabot, is the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum and part of a dynasty that stretches back ten generations in New England. The Cabots are one of the bases of the Boston Brahmins, a class once described by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner as the 'Brahmin Caste of New England.' Coldplay's Boston kiss cam accidentally exposed Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot in an alleged affair. Now, the internet and LinkedIn are buzzing with questions about the rumoured office romance. Who are the Boston Brahmins? They are known as the 'First Families of Boston'. The Boston Brahmins were Anglo-Saxon Protestant elites who dominated New England's political, cultural, and economic life from the 18th to the early 20th century. 'And this is good old Boston / The home of the bean and the cod / Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots / And the Cabots talk only to God,' goes a famous rhyme still recited by Boston schoolchildren. But being a Brahmin isn't just about wealth; it's also about legacy and restraint. According to The New York Post, the Cabots built their fortune in the soot trade, specifically carbon black, which was essential for tire manufacturing. Today, family members like Andrew Cabot manage family-run enterprises, in line with Brahmin tradition. After the ongoing controversy around the recent cheating scandal at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned from his position, but there is outrage over Kristin Cabot's face and calls to resign after the Coldplay scandal. Also read about Kristin Cabot's 'Boston Brahmin' family history. The unspoken rules of privilege For Boston Brahmins, showing off was never part of their being. Wealth is something you live with quietly, not something you flash around. A true Brahmin might take the T to work, wear the same simple, but well-made, suit year after year, and eat cold roast leftovers instead of going out for fancy meals. As petr reports by the New York Post, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, a proud Brahmin himself, once said, 'Your name should only appear in print three times: when you're born, when you marry, and when you die. ' He joked that he didn't quite follow that rule, since he ended up in the papers more often than tradition would allow.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Who are Boston Brahmins? Kristin Cabot's powerful family ties resurface amid scandal at Coldplay concert
Amid a scandal that has everyone talking, Astronomer's HR chief Kristin Cabot, who was recently seen cuddling with now-ex CEO Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert, is now drawing attention not just for her workplace conduct but also for her elite family background. Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, owner of Privateer Rum, and a descendant of the prestigious Cabot family, one of Boston's oldest and wealthiest lineages. The Cabots are part of the so-called Boston Brahmins, a term historically used to describe the city's most elite Anglo-American families. The phrase was coined by author Oliver Wendell Holmes in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner, likening Boston's elite to India's Brahmins, the highest priestly caste, to describe their social standing, exclusivity, and cultural influence. According to a PBS report, Boston Brahmins were descendants of early Puritan settlers who amassed their fortunes through trade and industry. Over time, they became synonymous with American aristocracy, known for their wealth, philanthropy, and rigid social circles, but also for resisting social integration and immigration. Their values were rooted in discipline, education, refinement, and civic duty, as documented by the New England Historical Society. Yet, they were also seen as aloof, with a strong sense of inherited privilege. The Cabots were among Boston's most influential families, with wealth tied to shipping, manufacturing, and regional enterprises. Their social status was so exclusive that even the powerful Kennedy family was once seen as outsiders. A popular Boston rhyme sums it up: 'And this is good old Boston, the home of the bean and the cod, Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God.' Kristin Cabot's link to this elite lineage has resurfaced in the wake of the Coldplay concert controversy, adding another layer of public fascination to the scandal that led to the resignation of Astronomer's CEO and an ongoing internal probe involving its HR head.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Are The Boston Brahmins? Astronomer HR Head Kristin Cabot's 'Elite Connection' Explained
Astronomer's head of human resources (HR), Kristin Cabot, currently caught in the middle of a raging controversy after being spotted canoodling with her boss, Andy Byron, at the Coldplay concert, has a connection to Boston's richest families. Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, the owner of Privateer Rum, and part of one of Boston's most elite families. Andrew is the descendant of the Caboot family, which is part of America's elite class, commonly known as the "Boston Brahmins". What are Boston Brahmins? Oliver Wendell Holmes coined the term in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner, calling Boston's elite families "the Brahmin Caste of New England", according to a PBS report. Brahmins are the highest priestly caste in India, and Mr Holmes borrowed the term to describe Boston's upper-class, Anglo-Saxon Protestant families, which has stuck since then. The Boston Brahmins were the descendants of Puritans, having made their fortune as American merchants. They were the closest thing the United States has ever had to a true aristocracy. Mr Holmes described Boston Brahmins as a group who believed they were destined to build a "shining city on a hill", rooted in the Puritan ideals of discipline, thrift, education, and cultural refinement, as per New England Historical Society. The Brahmins were known for their philanthropy but also for their exclusivity, often resisting the integration of immigrants, as seen in their founding of the Immigration Restriction League in 1894. When immigrants did move in to the newly fashionable Old South End, the Brahmins moved out. Who are the popular Boston Brahmins? Some of the popular Boston Brahmin family names are Adams, Cabot, Coffin, Eliot, Emerson, Endicott, Forbes, Gardner, Holmes, Lawrence, Lowell, Otis, Parkman, Peabody, Phillips, Putnam, Quincy, Weld, Wigglesworth, and Winthrop. How rich are the Cabots? The Cabots are part of a class so rarefied that, for decades, even the Kennedys were considered outsiders. Their business ventures spanned shipping, carbon black manufacturing (a critical component in tire production), and various other enterprises across the region. The family is so well known in Boston, it's said locally that the "Cabots speak only to God". As a local poem goes, "And this is good old Boston/ The home of the bean and the cod/ Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots/ And the Cabots talk only to God".
