What was the name of the model who posed for the Hathaway shirt ads?

Answer 1

The original "Hathaway Shirt Man" was Baron George Wrangell, a Russian aristocrat and later "New York Journal American" Society columnist (a Hearst newspaper published 1937-1966). Baron Wrangell donned the eye patch for the historic debut ad in 1951, although he had 20/20 vision at the time. It is said that the creator of the ad campaign, David Ogilvy, used the eye patch almost as an afterthought when most of the session photos had already been taken. In addition to launching one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history, the ground-breaking 1951 ad became the subject of advertising analysis, debate and even parody for over fifty years. The ad campaign continued for many years using several models, all of whom were reportedly not models, but men who were accomplished on their own prior to their celebrity. Baron George Wrangell died in Manhattan of a heart attack on June 20th, 1969 at the age of 65.

Answer 2

The model who posed for the iconic Hathaway shirt ads was David Ormsby-Gore, the 5th Lord Harlech. His inclusion in the campaign helped elevate the brand's image and sales.