Author. Born in Haverford, Pennsylvania, she was best known for writing biographies about noted figures in history. Her earliest biographies were about musicians when she wrote “Beloved Friend: The Story of Tchaikowsky and Nadejda Von Meck” (1937). Her works included “Free Artist: The story of Anton and Nicholas Rubinstein” (1939), “Yankee from Olympus: Justice Holmes and His Family” (1944), “The Lion and the Throne: The Life and Times of Sir Edward Coke (1957), “Adventures of a Biographer” (1959) and “Francis Bacon: The Temper of a Man” (1963). She is a recipient of the US National Book Award for Nonfiction, the Philadelphia Award and was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Lehigh University. She died at age 76 in Haverford, Pennsylvania. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)  Family links:  Parents:  Henry Sturgis Drinker (1850 – 1937)  Aimee Ernesta Beaux Drinker (1852 – 1939)  Spouse:  Thomas McKean Downs (1894 – 1960)*  Siblings:  Henry Sandwith Drinker (1880 – 1965)*  James B. Drinker (1882 – 1971)*  Aimee Ernesta Drinker Barlow (1892 – 1981)*  Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897 – 1973) *Calculated relationship