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— CH. 1 · EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION —

Linda McCartney

~4 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
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  • Linda Louise Eastman entered the world on the 24th of September 1941 in Manhattan. Her father Lee Eastman practiced entertainment law and counted famous clients like Harold Arlen among his roster. A song titled Linda reached number two on the Billboard Best Sellers chart when she was one year old. She grew up with an older brother named John and two younger sisters. The family moved to Arizona where she developed a love for nature and horseriding. Her mother died in a plane crash over Jamaica Bay in March 1962 while Linda was studying at the University of Arizona. This tragedy led her to leave school without graduating and marry Joseph Melville See Jr. that same June.

  • Eastman began working as a receptionist for Town & Country magazine in the mid-1960s. She quickly transitioned into photography by studying how David Dalton set up shots and managed lighting during photo shoots. By late 1967 she became the unofficial house photographer at Bill Graham's Fillmore East concert hall. Her work captured artists including Jimi Hendrix Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin performing live. On the 11th of May 1968 Rolling Stone published her photograph of Eric Clapton making her the first woman to appear on the cover of the magazine. Her images later filled galleries internationally and hung within the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. A collection titled Sixties: Portrait of an Era appeared in bookstores in 1992.

  • Paul taught Linda to play keyboards after the Beatles broke up in 1970. They recorded the album Ram together as a duo before forming Wings in 1971. The band won several Grammy Awards despite critics mocking her singing voice. In 1977 they released Seaside Woman under the name Suzy and the Red Stripes to prove her songwriting abilities. Legal disputes arose when Northern Songs filed a lawsuit alleging Paul violated exclusive rights agreements by collaborating with his wife. The case settled amicably in June 1972 but highlighted tensions over their creative partnership. She continued playing alongside him until The New World Tour ended in 1993. Her posthumous album Wide Prairie arrived in 1998 containing tracks like Seaside Woman.

  • The couple decided to become vegetarians in 1975 which sparked a new career path for Linda. She published her first cookbook Home Cooking in 1989 crediting author Peter Cox for research assistance. A second title called Linda's Kitchen: Simple and Inspiring Recipes for Meatless Meals appeared in 1995. This book received a James Beard Award nomination in the Vegetarian Books category the following year. She founded Linda McCartney Foods in 1991 to sell frozen vegetarian meals. The H. J. Heinz Company acquired the business in 1999 before selling it again to the Hain Celestial Group in 2007. Linda also supported organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals through public service announcements.

  • Linda married Paul McCartney on the 12th of March 1969 at Marylebone Town Hall in London. They had four children together including Mary born the 28th of August 1969 and Stella born the 13th of September 1971. Paul formally adopted Heather from Linda's previous marriage to Joseph Melville See Jr. The family spent time at his farmhouse retreat in Scotland where they wrote songs like Two of Us. Her relaxed attitude influenced Paul who began shaving less often and wearing simpler clothes. He credited her with helping him recover from depression after the Beatles split. Fans reacted negatively to their union partly because it ended his status as the last unattached Beatle. John Lennon publicly criticized the press treatment she endured during that period.

  • Doctors diagnosed Linda with breast cancer in 1995 and warned that she would have about eighteen months to live. The disease metastasized to her liver despite medical intervention. She died on the 17th of April 1998 at age fifty-six inside the McCartney family ranch in Tucson Arizona. Her family remained by her side until the end. Paul later stated that doctors told them privately they had caught the illness too late. Her ashes were scattered at the farm in Sussex while a memorial service took place at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. George Harrison Ringo Starr Billy Joel and Elton John attended the gathering which drew seven hundred people. Paul declared at the funeral that he lost his girlfriend.

  • Paul donated over two million dollars to cancer research centers in New York and Tucson in January 2000. These funds came through the Garland Appeal with conditions prohibiting animal testing for the research. A clinic named The Linda McCartney Centre opened at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital in 2000. Artist Brian Clarke exhibited stained glass artwork called The Glass Wall dedicated to her memory in June 1998. The Edinburgh International Film Festival premiered Wide Prairie a six-minute cartoon fantasy film she created with director Oscar Grillo. Paul officially opened the Linda McCartney Children's Play Area in Calderstones Park in July 1999. A bronze statue of her stands in Kintyre Scotland near their former farmhouse location.

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Common questions

When was Linda McCartney born and where did she grow up?

Linda Louise Eastman entered the world on the 24th of September 1941 in Manhattan. She grew up with an older brother named John and two younger sisters before her family moved to Arizona.

What historic photography achievement did Linda McCartney accomplish for Rolling Stone magazine?

Rolling Stone published her photograph of Eric Clapton making her the first woman to appear on the cover of the magazine on the 11th of May 1968. Her images later filled galleries internationally and hung within the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

How many children did Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney have together and what were their names?

They had four children together including Mary born the 28th of August 1969 and Stella born the 13th of September 1971. Paul formally adopted Heather from Linda's previous marriage to Joseph Melville See Jr.

Why did Linda McCartney start a vegetarian food business and when did it open?

The couple decided to become vegetarians in 1975 which sparked a new career path for Linda. She founded Linda McCartney Foods in 1991 to sell frozen vegetarian meals.

When did Linda McCartney die and where was she buried?

She died on the 17th of April 1998 at age fifty-six inside the McCartney family ranch in Tucson Arizona. Her ashes were scattered at the farm in Sussex while a memorial service took place at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

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