Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Mary Todd Lincoln" - New World
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| − | '''Mary Ann Todd Lincoln''' (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the [[First Lady of the United States]] when her husband, [[Abraham Lincoln]], served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865. | + | '''Mary Ann Todd Lincoln''' (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the [[First Lady of the United States]] when her husband, [[Abraham Lincoln]], served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865. |
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| + | She was raised in a wealthy and prosperous family. Her father was a close friend to Kentucky political leader [[Henry Clay]] of the Whig Party, Mary Todd developed a voracious interest in politics and political issues. As evidenced by one of her earliest letters, she supported the presidential candidacy of Whig [[William Henry Harrison]]. She studied widely and deeply a variety of subjects including the works of [[Victor Hugo]], [[William Shakespeare]], [[astronomy]]. According to legend, her maternal grandmother aided slaves seeking freedom through the "Underground Railroad" and Mary Todd's later support of abolition is believed to have originated with the influence of this grandmother. | ||
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==First Lady== | ==First Lady== | ||
| − | The Lincolns deeply loved one another, but it was a troubled marriage at times. Of their four sons, only Robert and Tad survived into adulthood, and only Robert outlived his mother. | + | The Lincolns deeply loved one another, but it was a troubled marriage at times. Of their four sons, only Robert and Tad survived into adulthood, and only Robert outlived his mother. |
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| + | In 1844 the Lincolns bought a home in Springfield at the corner of Eighth and Jackson. Abraham had become a successful attorney and politician. In 1846 he was elected to the [[United States]] House of Representatives. Mary and the children lived with him in Washington for part of his term. Abraham did not run for office again, and the family was back together again in Springfield in 1849. | ||
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| + | Abraham concentrated on his law practice until 1854 when his mind again turned to politics. In 1856 he received some support for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Vice-Presidential nomination, and in 1858 he engaged in a well-known series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas. He received the Republican nomination for President in 1860 and was elected over three other candidates in November. In February, 1861, the Lincolns left Springfield headed for Washington, D.C. Abraham was inaugurated as the sixteenth President on March 4, 1861. | ||
| − | + | When Abraham won the election that year, the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] was imminent. Before he even assumed office, seven states had seceded, with four more after his inauguration in March. Although Mary had dreamed of a proud entry into Washington, because of an assassination attempt, they had to sneak into the capitol. Her dreams were soon further crushed with harsh criticism, disappointments and more heartache. | |
| − | + | Southerners felt Mary was a traitor, turning against her roots, while Northerners felt she was a spy, as many of her relatives sided with the Confederacy. She received criticism when she refurbished the White House because she went over the budget appointed by Congress. And she received criticism for holding festive events during wartime, but in doing so, Mary made the political point that the Union government would remain in Washington. | |
| − | == | + | ==Lincoln's Death== |
After the President's assassination in April 1865, her reputation was further besmirched as former Lincoln aides and Cabinet members openly attacked her for being a spendthrift, difficult and arrogant (Lincoln's wartimes aides [[John Nicolay]] and [[John Hay]] privately referred to her as "the hell-cat"). | After the President's assassination in April 1865, her reputation was further besmirched as former Lincoln aides and Cabinet members openly attacked her for being a spendthrift, difficult and arrogant (Lincoln's wartimes aides [[John Nicolay]] and [[John Hay]] privately referred to her as "the hell-cat"). | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 5 October 2006
| Mary Todd Lincoln |
|---|
 Mary Todd Lincoln
|
| Born |
| December 13, 1818 Lexington, Kentucky, USA |
| Died |
| July 16, 1882 Springfield, Illinois, USA |
Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the First Lady of the United States when her husband, Abraham Lincoln, served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865.
She was raised in a wealthy and prosperous family. Her father was a close friend to Kentucky political leader Henry Clay of the Whig Party, Mary Todd developed a voracious interest in politics and political issues. As evidenced by one of her earliest letters, she supported the presidential candidacy of Whig William Henry Harrison. She studied widely and deeply a variety of subjects including the works of Victor Hugo, William Shakespeare, astronomy. According to legend, her maternal grandmother aided slaves seeking freedom through the "Underground Railroad" and Mary Todd's later support of abolition is believed to have originated with the influence of this grandmother.
Early Life
Mary Ann Todd was born on December 13, 1818, in Lexington, Kentucky. Mary was one of seven children born to Robert S. Todd and his wife, Eliza Parker Todd. The Todds were a prominent family in Lexington. Mary's mother passed away in 1825, and her father remarried the following year.
Mary excelled in school. She appeared in school plays and learned to speak French fluently. Mary was ambitious, scholarly, and an excellent conversationalist.
In 1839 Mary moved to Springfield, Illinois, to live at the home of her older sister, Elizabeth Edwards. Mary was active and popular in Springfield's society, and she dated people like Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln won her heart, and the two were married in 1842. Abraham gave her a wedding ring engraved with the words "Love is Eternal."
Over the next eleven years the couple had four children. They were Robert, Edward ("Eddie"), William ("Willie"), and Thomas ("Tad"). Sadly, Robert was the only child of the Lincolns to live to adulthood. Mary was known as a very loving and caring mother. She was very devoted to her family.
First Lady
The Lincolns deeply loved one another, but it was a troubled marriage at times. Of their four sons, only Robert and Tad survived into adulthood, and only Robert outlived his mother.
In 1844 the Lincolns bought a home in Springfield at the corner of Eighth and Jackson. Abraham had become a successful attorney and politician. In 1846 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Mary and the children lived with him in Washington for part of his term. Abraham did not run for office again, and the family was back together again in Springfield in 1849.
Abraham concentrated on his law practice until 1854 when his mind again turned to politics. In 1856 he received some support for the Republican Vice-Presidential nomination, and in 1858 he engaged in a well-known series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas. He received the Republican nomination for President in 1860 and was elected over three other candidates in November. In February, 1861, the Lincolns left Springfield headed for Washington, D.C. Abraham was inaugurated as the sixteenth President on March 4, 1861.
When Abraham won the election that year, the Civil War was imminent. Before he even assumed office, seven states had seceded, with four more after his inauguration in March. Although Mary had dreamed of a proud entry into Washington, because of an assassination attempt, they had to sneak into the capitol. Her dreams were soon further crushed with harsh criticism, disappointments and more heartache.
Southerners felt Mary was a traitor, turning against her roots, while Northerners felt she was a spy, as many of her relatives sided with the Confederacy. She received criticism when she refurbished the White House because she went over the budget appointed by Congress. And she received criticism for holding festive events during wartime, but in doing so, Mary made the political point that the Union government would remain in Washington.
Lincoln's Death
After the President's assassination in April 1865, her reputation was further besmirched as former Lincoln aides and Cabinet members openly attacked her for being a spendthrift, difficult and arrogant (Lincoln's wartimes aides John Nicolay and John Hay privately referred to her as "the hell-cat").
In 1868, a former seamstress and confidante, Elizabeth Keckley, published Behind the Scenes, (or, Thirty years a slave, and four years in the White House). When the book proved controversial, Robert had it suppressed.
The deaths of her husband and her sons, Willie and Thomas (Tad), in time led to an overpowering sense of grief and the gradual onset of depression.
Mary Lincoln's "spend-thrift" ways and eccentric behavior concerned her son Robert. To gain conrol of his mother's finances, Robert had Mary Lincoln committed to an insane asylum in Batavia, Illinois in 1875, but she was free to move about the grounds and was released three months later. She never forgave her eldest son for what she regarded as his betrayal.
Mary Todd Lincoln spent the next fours years abroad taking up residence in Pau, France. Lincoln spent much of this time travelling in Europe.
Lincoln's late years were marked by declining health. In 1879, she suffered spinal cord injuries in a fall from a step ladder. On her return to the US aboard an ocean liner in 1880, actress Sarah Bernhardt prevented Lincoln from falling down a staircase and sustaining further injury. Lincoln also suffered from cataracts that severely affected her eyesight. This may have contributed to her falls.
Mary Todd Lincoln died at the Springfield, Illinois home of her sister Elizabeth on July 16, 1882, aged 63. She was interred within the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.
Of Robert's children, Jessie Harlan Lincoln Beckwith (1875 - 1948) had two children (Mary Lincoln Beckwith ["Peggy," 1898 - 1975] and Robert ("Bud") Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904 - 1985), neither of whom had children of their own. Robert's other daughter, Mary Todd Lincoln ("Mamie") (1869 - 1938) married Charles Bradley Isham in 1891. They had one son, Lincoln Isham (1892 - 1971). Lincoln Isham married Leahalma Correa in 1919, but died without children.
The last person known to be of direct Lincoln lineage, Robert's grandson "Bud" Beckwith died in 1985. Mark E. Neely, Jr., The Abraham Lincoln Encyclopedia, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1982 (ISBN 0-07-046145-7).
Trivia
- A sister was the daugther-in-law of Illinois Governor Ninian Edwards. A daugther of the Edwards married Edward L. Baker editor of the "Illinos State Journal" and son of Conngressman [David Jewett Baker].
- A brother in law was CS General [Benjamin HArdin Helm]-son of Kentucky Governor John L. Helm. Governor Helm's wife was a 1st cousin 3 times removed of Colonel John Hardin who was related to 3 Ky. Congressman.
- A Cousin was Ky Congressman/US General John Blair Smith Todd.
- Nancy Lincoln, a aunt of Abraham Lincoln was married to William Brumfield; reportably William Brumfield was distantly related to a Susannah Brumfield who was the wife of Thomas Boone-cousin of Daniel Boone.
- Musician Sufjan Stevens, on his 2003 concept album inspired by the state of Illinois, dedicates a track to Lincoln, titled "A Short Reprise for Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, but for Very Good Reasons."
External links
- Mary Todd Lincoln House (National Park Service)
- Mary Todd Lincoln House (Official Home Page)
- Mary Todd Lincoln Research Site
- Mary Todd Lincoln in 1862 Harper's Weekly Newspaper
- Especially for students - An Overview of Mary Todd Lincoln's Life
- Mr. Lincoln's White House: Mary Todd Lincoln
- "Wet with Blood," Research Project on Mary Todd Lincoln's Cloak, Chicago History Museum (formerly Chicago Historical Society)
| Preceded by: Harriet Lane |
First Lady of the United States 1861 – 1865 |
Succeeded by: Eliza McCardle Johnson |
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