Paul and Linda's marriage was considered one of the entertainment industry's most successful long-term marriage.
Here is information about how Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman met, their wedding, children, quotes, and more.
News Updates:
4/07/08: As the 10th anniversary of Linda Eastman's death approached, Paul McCartney shared thoughts and memories about his first wife.Source: "Sir Paul McCartney on Linda", TimesonLine.co.uk, 4/06/08.
Born:
Sir Paul McCartney aka James Paul McCartney: June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England.Linda Eastman: September 24, 1941 in New York City, New York.
Died:
Linda: April 17, 1998 in Tucson, Arizona. Linda died at age 56 from breast cancer.Linda's cremation took place in Arizona. One of the memorial services for Linda was in Saint Martin-in-the-Fields. Paul scattered her ashes both at their home in East Sussex, England and at their family ranch in Tucson, Arizona.
Paul: "She didn’t know she was dying. I’m not actually sure she ever knew she was dying. You have a decision to make as a family as to whether you tell someone and the doctors leave it to you, the immediate family. I talked it over with the doctor and he said: “I don’t think she would want to know. She is such a strong, forward-thinking lady and such a positive girl that I don’t think it would do any good.” She was fighting right up to the end."
Source: "Sir Paul McCartney on Linda", TimesonLine.co.uk, 4/06/08.
Paul's last moments with Linda: "So it suddenly came to me at the moment when she was just about to die. I have no idea why, I just thought, "I've just got to say this." It was as if I was guided and I said, "You're up on your beautiful Appaloosa stallion; it's a fine spring day, we're riding through the woods. The bluebells are all out, and the sky is clear blue." And she just drifted off. So, a terrible tragedy. But I don't think it could have happened in a better way in a better place."
Source: Chrissie Hynde, "Tears and laughter", USAWeekend.com, Oct. 30-Nov.1, 1998.
How Paul and Linda Met:
Linda and Paul met on May 15, 1967 at the Bag o'Nails in London. Paul claims he was attracted by Linda's smile. She went back to New York City, and they didn't meet again until a year later.
Paul: "Across a crowded room, as they say, our eyes met and the violins started playing ... There was an immediate attraction between us. As she was leaving -- she was with the group the Animals, whom she’d been photographing –- I saw an obvious opportunity. I said: “My name’s Paul. What’s yours?” I think she probably recognised me. It was so corny, but I told the kids later that, had it not been for that moment, none of them would be here. Later that night, we went on together to another club, the Speakeasy. It was our first date and I remember I heard Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale for the first time. It became our song."
Source: "Sir Paul McCartney on Linda", TimesonLine.co.uk, 4/06/08.
Linda: "It was at the Apple press conference that my relationship with Paul was rekindled. I managed to slip him my phone number. he range me up later that day and told me they were leaving that evening but he'd like it if I was able to travel out to the airport with him and John." Source: Linda McCartney, Linda McCartney's Sixties: Portrait of an Era, page 146.
Wedding Date:
Paul and Linda were married on March 12, 1969 in a civil ceremony at the Marylebone Register Office. Their marriage was blessed at St. John's Wood Church near London, England with Paul's brother Michael McCartney aka Mike McGear as best man.Linda wore a fawn beige dress with a pale daffodil yellow coat. Paul wore a gray suit with a yellow tie.
Honeymoon:
Paul and Linda honeymooned in the U.S. They took Linda's daughter Heather with them on their honeymoon.
Children:
Paul and Linda raised four children together.- Heather Louise See McCartney: Born December 31, 1962 in Tucson, Arizona.
In 1969 Paul adopted Heather after his marriage to Linda.
Birth father: John Melvin See, Jr.
Occupation: Pottery designer. - Mary Anna McCartney Donald: Born August 28, 1969 in London, England.
Occupations: Photographer and producer.
Marriage: Mary Anna married Alistair Donald on September 26, 1998. The couple separated in April, 2005.
Children: They have two sons, Arthur Alistair Donald who was born in 1999 and Elliot Donald who was born in 2002. - Stella Nina McCartney Willis: Born September 13, 1971 in London, England.
Occupation: Fashion and costume designer. Stella designed Madonna's wedding dress.
Marriage: Stella married publisher Alasdhair Willis on August 30, 2003 in Scotland.
Children: They have a son, Miller Alasdhair James Willis born in 2005 in London, England. - James Louis McCartney: Born September 12, 1977.
Occupation: Musician.
Occupations:
Paul: Bass guitar player for The Beatles, composer, singer, and musician.
Linda: Photographer, composer, actress, producer, writer, musician, member of Wings, and animal rights activist.
"Linda McCartney Photographs -- 2008", James Hyman Gallery
Residences:
Linda and Paul preferred to live away from city life.- Ranch in Tucson Arizona
- Farm in East Sussex, England
- Farm in Campbeltown, Scotland
Other Marriages:
Linda: Linda's first marriage was to John Melvin See, Jr., a geologist, who she met at the University of Arizona. They married on June 18, 1962, had a daughter together, separated in 1964, and later divorced in June 1965. John See committed suicide in 2000.Paul: Paul's second marriage was to Heather Mills. They married on June 11, 2002 and were divorced on March 17, 2008. They have one child.
- Beatrice Milly McCartney: Born on October 28, 2003.
Quotes About Paul and Linda McCartney's Marriage:
Paul: "Every love song I write is for Linda."Source: "Linda Louise Eastman McCartney." The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume 5: 1997-1999. Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002.
