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 - Yes, date unknown
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| Name |
Mary Todd |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
Yes, date unknown |
| Person ID |
I23496 |
My Reynolds Line |
| Last Modified |
14 Dec 2021 |
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| Sources |
- [S89] Facebook.
A Daily Dose of History
1d ·
Born into a wealthy and prominent Lexington Kentucky family, Mary Ann Todd seemed an unlikely match for a relatively undistinguished young lawyer in Springfield Illinois. But Mary believed the ambitious young man had potential, insisting years later that she knew from the start he would become President someday. But theirs was to be a troublesome marriage. While her husband was known for his down-to-earth homespun good-nature and his crude humor, Mary was a vain, jealous, temperamental spendthrift.
Mary was known for bizarre outbursts and strange behavior. Her temper tantrums, wild mood swings, overspending, and misuse of public funds were a source of great embarrassment and humiliation to President Lincoln. After his death, Mary became obsessed with spiritualism and attempts to communicate with her dead husband. Historians today believe she was likely bipolar.
To be fair, Mrs. Lincoln did not have an easy life. She attained her dream of being first lady, only to see her husband's election trigger a devastating civil war, in which two of her brothers and a beloved brother in law were killed fighting for the Confederacy. Three of her four sons died before reaching adulthood, including her beloved Willy who died of typhoid fever at the White House in 1862 at age 11. And, of course, she witnessed her husband?s murder.
Her mental illness led to another great tragedy in Mary Lincoln's life when her only surviving child, son Robert, had her committed for insanity. At the trial Robert testified, "I have no doubt my mother is insane. She has long been a source of great anxiety to me." The only thing Mary said at the trial was, ?Robert, how can you do this to me??
Mary Todd Lincoln was born 203 years ago today.
- [S89] Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/GarfieldNPS/photos/a.177527405635180/4518664618188082/.
First Lady birthday today: Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of 16th President Abraham Lincoln, was born in Lexington, Kentucky on this day 203 years ago: December 13, 1818. She was born into a wealthy slave-holding family, and years later had several relatives who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
She married Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois on November 4, 1842. They eventually had four sons, but only the first, Robert, survived to adulthood. In 1881, Robert Todd Lincoln became Secretary of War for newly-inaugurated President James A. Garfield.
Mrs. Lincoln was sitting next to her husband when he was assassinated at Ford's Theater in April 1865. Her life after his death was very difficult as she struggled with financial problems and mental illness. She lived until July 16, 1882.
Image: Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln by Katherine Helm (White House Historical Association)
#jamesagarfieldnhs #jamesagarfield #marytoddlincoln #MaryToddLincoln #OnThisDay #onthisdayinhistory #firstlady
First Lady birthday today: Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of 16th President Abraham Lincoln, was born in Lexington, Kentucky on this day 203 years ago: December 13, 1818. She was born into a wealthy slave-holding family, and years later had several relatives who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
She married Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois on November 4, 1842. They eventually had four sons, but only the first, Robert, survived to adulthood. In 1881, Robert Todd Lincoln became Secretary of War for newly-inaugurated President James A. Garfield.
Mrs. Lincoln was sitting next to her husband when he was assassinated at Ford's Theater in April 1865. Her life after his death was very difficult as she struggled with financial problems and mental illness. She lived until July 16, 1882.
Image: Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln by Katherine Helm (White House Historical Association)
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