Fun Fact: Which Maryland County Does the Writer of “The Great Gatsby,” Have Deep Roots In?

Francis Scott Fitzgerald, known for shaping the 1920s and the America’s Jazz Age, is often linked to New York City and Paris because of his character Jay Gatsby. However, his family’s roots trace back to Montgomery County.

Photograph by JayHenry/Wikimedia Commons.

Although Francis Scott Fitzgerald was not born in Maryland, his family had deep ties to the DC and Maryland area. His grandparents owned a small farm called “Glenmary” just outside modern-day Rockville. Born in 1896, Fitzgerald was named after his distant cousin, Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

In 1920, Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre and lived in New York while writing short stories. Though The Great Gatsby is now considered his masterpiece, it was not widely celebrated upon its 1925 release, receiving only modest success. Over time, however, the novel became a defining portrayal of the Roaring Twenties and a sharp critique of the American Dream.

By the late 1920s, Zelda developed mental health issues that led to long-term hospitalization. Fitzgerald later moved to Hollywood, where he passed away in 1940. Despite their marital struggles and infrequent communication at that time, Zelda knew Fitzgerald wished to be buried in his family plot in the Catholic cemetery in Rockville. However, upon his arrival, the church refused his burial, citing his lack of adherence to Catholic rites. As a result, Zelda arranged for him to be buried a mile away at Rockville Cemetery, where she later was buried with him in 1948.

For 27 years, the Fitzgerald’s remained there until members of the Rockville Women’s Club noticed the deterioration of their gravesite. After consulting family members, they petitioned the Archbishop of Washington, who approved their reburial at St. Mary’s Church Cemetery in 1975.

Today, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald rest together at St. Mary’s Church Historic Cemetery in Rockville, Maryland. Their gravestone is inscribed with the famous final line of The Great Gatsby: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

For more information on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life visit How F. Scott Fitzgerald Found Eternal Peace in Rockville.

If you would like your county featured in Fun Facts, please get in touch with Amanda Grosskrueger at agrosskrueger@mdcounties.org.