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7 Celebs Who Married Cousins

Bach, Rudy, Einstein all kept it in the family

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2007 5:54 PM CST
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(Newser) – These seven celebrities looked no further than their own family tree for a bride, Mental Floss reports—they married their cousins:

  1. Johann Sebastian Bach: Had 7 of his 20 children with Maria.
  2. Edgar Allen Poe: Fell for Virginia when she was 7; they wed when she was 13.
  3. Jerry Lee Lewis: Myra was 13 when they married.

  1. Rudy Giuliani: Had his first marriage, to cousin Regina Peruggi, annulled after 15 years.
  2. Charles Darwin: Had 10 children with Emma.
  3. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Eleanor was a distant relative.
  4. Albert Einstein: Had a lengthy affair with his cousin, married her, then cheated on her.

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (seen Sarah Roosevelt) were distant cousins.
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (seen Sarah Roosevelt) were distant cousins.   (Archive Photos)
Rudy Giuliani has been thrice-married, but his first was to a third-cousin, Regina Peruggi. She turned out to be a second cousin, and Hizzoner had the marriage annulled after 15 years.
Rudy Giuliani has been thrice-married, but his first was to a third-cousin, Regina Peruggi. She turned out to be a second cousin, and Hizzoner had the marriage annulled after 15 years.   (Getty Images)
Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousin Myra, who was 13 when they wed.
Jerry Lee Lewis and his cousin Myra, who was 13 when they wed.   (Archive Photos)
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COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

So what exactly is wrong with marrying your cousin?
Slate

And more on kissing cousins
Jezebel

 
Rudy Giuliani • marriage • Charles Darwin • Albert Einstein • Franklin D. Roosevelt • Jerry Lee Lewis • cousins • Johann Sebastian Bach • Edgar Allen Poe • Virginia Poe • Regina Peruggi • Emma Darwin • Eleanor Roosevelt

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