Mary+Todd+Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln

She was born on December 13, 1818 and died on July 16, 1882

- She was born in Lexington, KY - Her mother died when she was six and her father, Robert Smith Todd, married Elizabeth "Betsy" Parker Todd - She and her stepmother did not get along - Between her mother/father and father/stepmother she had fifteen siblings, but she was raised in luxury. - She wanted to get away from her stepmother so she left for school at a relatively young age. She studied dance, drama and music. - She had a very lively personality that went well with politics

- She began living with her Sister Elizabeth who was married to a former governor. That is how she got involved with politics. - She was courted with Stephen A. Douglas but she decided to be courted with Abe Lincoln. She got engaged to Lincoln. - They married November 4, 1842

White House:

- Lincoln was the first Western President, but Washington, D.C. was mainly dominated by the East and South -- that was awkward for Mary because she really had to step up her game as being the First Lady - Mary was from a border state and her family was torn between the Confederacy and the Union. She had siblings and relatives fighting against each other. - She, however, was behind her husband 100% -- for the Union

- She was still married to Lincoln when he was assassinated. She was so broken with her losses of her siblings, children, and now husband that she didn't leave the White House for a month. - Later her son, Robert, sent her to an insane asylum, but she paid her way out even though she was greatly in debt.

She died in 1862

Questions: 1) What exactly did she do when her husband was away dealing with war issues and did she agree with everything he was doing? 2) What was it like being the first First Lady of a Western President?

Quote:

"Clouds and darkness surround us, yet Heaven is just, and the day of triumph will surely come, when justice and truth will be vindicated. Our wrongs will be made right, and we will once more, taste the blessings of freedom." - Mary Todd Lincoln