Early Life

Born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia, “Daisy,” as she was affectionately known, descended from a long line of strong and independent women. Her home, often referred to simply as the Birthplace, was designated a registered National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Juliette was a sensitive, curious, and adventurous girl known for her sense of humor, compassion, and concern for others. She was interested in athletics, the arts, animals, and nature—attributes that would one day become central to the Girl Scout Movement.

As a child and young adult, she experienced several ear injuries resulting in almost total hearing loss that affected her for the remainder of her life.

She married William Mackay Low in 1886, and together they set up homes in both England and Georgia. Juliette returned often to the United States to connect with her many friends and family members—and also to find support during what ultimately proved to be a calamitous marriage that ended shortly before her husband’s death in 1905.