First Ladies | Mary Todd Lincoln | 2

Mary Todd Lincoln's journey from a wealthy childhood to the First Lady of the United States is marked by personal trials, strong convictions, and profound belief in her husband's destiny.

Mary Todd was born into a wealthy and politically influential Kentucky family, and she received a robust education that was uncommon for women at the time.

Mary Todd was born on December 13, 1818, into a prominent Lexington, Kentucky family. Her father, Robert Todd, was a staunch believer in the value of education for women, so Mary received 12 years of formal schooling, which was exceptional for girls of her era. She showed an aptitude for French and an avid interest in literature. However, her childhood was marred by tragedy when her mother died in childbirth when Mary was just six. Her father's subsequent remarriage to Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys brought further unrest, as Mary and her siblings deeply disliked their stepmother.

Despite experiencing personal tragedies and a difficult childhood, Mary excelled academically and developed strong political interests and opinions from a young age.

Despite the turbulence at home, Mary was precocious in her political opinions. She famously rejected a rally for Andrew Jackson at the tender age of nine and, as a youngster, declared to family neighbor and Kentucky Senator Henry Clay her ambition to one day reside in the White House. Her robust intellect and political savvy set a foundation for a life intertwined with national politics.

Mary met and married Abraham Lincoln, an unlikely match given their different social backgrounds, but Mary recognized Lincoln's political potential and supported his career ambitions.

Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln were an unlikely pair; she was well-educated and from a high social standing, while he came from a modest background. Despite these differences, Mary was attracted to Lincoln's intellectual capacity and saw in him the potential for great national prominence. She was resolved in her conviction that he was destined for the presidency, later saying that she believed he had the mind for "position, fame, and power".

The early years of the Lincolns' marriage were marked by domestic challenges, including financial struggles and Mary's volatile temperament, but the couple shared a deep bond over their mutual love of literature and politics.

Their eventual union was not smooth from the start. After a conflicted courtship that once led Mary to demand Lincoln never return, causing him deep depression, a mutual friend reunited ...

Mary Todd Lincoln stepped into the White House with ambitions that stretched far beyond the ceremonial duties typically expected of a First Lady, and her tenure was marked by both influence and controversies.

As First Lady, Mary embraced a more active and influential role than her predecessors, using her position to wield political power and patronage.

Early in her husband's presidential campaign, Mary Todd Lincoln was outspoken with journalists about Abraham Lincoln's plans, which was viewed as unladylike at the time. She reveled in the trip to Washington D.C. despite threats to her husband from pro-slavery Southerners, eager to fulfill her greatest ambition. She was even called Abraham's "Kitchen Cabinet" by reporters, signaling her involvement in political matters.

Mary was praised by the New York Herald for being more comfortable with the role of the First Lady compared to her immediate predecessors, who shied away from public duties. She quickly began using White House parties to wield influence and trade favors, lobbying government officials and cabinet members, and sometimes even making it seem like she was communicating the president's feelings. Her attempts to secure appointments and contracts, particularly for her family and acquaintances, led to conflicts with officials such as Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Mary's lavish spending on White House renovations and her own wardrobe drew significant criticism, with many accusing her of extravagance and poor judgment during wartime.

Mary saw the White House as neglected and in disrepair upon moving in and set out to refurbish it with a Congressional allowance of twenty-thousand dollars. Her refurbishment, however, quickly extended beyond the given budget. Despite her efforts to manage the overspending, including taking over the role of steward and selling second-hand furniture, Mary’s spending on clothes continued to be extravagant. She hired Elizabeth Keckley, a formerly enslaved seamstress, to create costly gowns, which, coupled with her decision to continue hosting elaborate receptions, attracted criticism for extravagance during the Civil War.

The amount of debt accrued, primarily from overdue store bills for her wardrobe, astonished the public. Mary justified her spending, stating that she needed to uphold a certain image as a woman from the West and to avoid being perceived as a "country bumpkin." Nonetheless, her expenditures and her insistence on participating in politics made her a controversial figure in the eyes of many.

Mary regularly intervened in government affairs, attempting to secure appointments and contracts for her family and acquaintances, which led to repeated clashes with government officials.

Mary was tenacious in her attempts to leverage her influence in the White House, whether that involved appealing to guests for help in managing her mounting bills or trying to sway her husband's political appointments. The New York World criticized President Lincoln for a supposed nepotism, which Mary refuted given Mr. Lincoln’s minimal family. This pe ...

Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of the 16th president of the United States, faced overwhelming personal tragedies and mental health challenges that marred much of her life.

The Lincolns endured immense personal tragedies, including the death of their young son Willie, which deeply devastated Mary and contributed to her declining mental health.

The Lincoln family experienced profound loss with the death of their four-year-old son Eddie to tuberculosis in February 1850. Subsequently, they welcomed two more sons, Willie and Tad. However, tragedy struck again when Willie, Mary's favorite son, died from typhoid fever at just 11 years old. This loss pushed Mary into a period of profound grief. She was bedridden and isolated herself for three weeks, and her mourning continued for a year—twice the period customary at the time.

Mary's intense and prolonged mourning, which defied social norms, was critically viewed as excessive, and even Abraham Lincoln feared it might drive her to madness, risking her commitment to an asylum. During her time of mourning, she shunned many public duties, including banning the Marine Band from performing on the White House lawn, actions that drew public ire.

Mary's grief over Willie's death led her to retreat from public life for an extended period, and her erratic behavior and excessive mourning rituals were widely criticized.

The criticism of Mary's behavior following Willie's death came in the context of an era with rigid social protocols surrounding mourning. Her confrontation with death was constant, and her behavior drew scrutiny. Abraham Lincoln's warning about her mental state underscores the societal pressures and the dangers they posed to her well-being.

In the aftermath of Abraham's assassination, Mary spiraled further into depression and instability, struggling to manage her finances and personal affairs.

Abraham's assassination was a critical blow to an already fragile Mary. She blamed herself for his death, believing her ambitions led to his demise. Suffering from headaches, congestion, and back pain from persistent weeping, Mary spent a month in bed and turned to spiritualists, leaving more conventional family support aside. The loss led her to leave the country for Germany with her son Tad.

Upon their return to the United States, Mary received a pension from Congress, but her menta ...

Mary Todd Lincoln's legacy as First Lady has been heavily overshadowed by controversies during and after her time in the White House. Despite her significant influence and accomplishments, her flamboyant style, tempestuous personality, and unconventional approach to the role have cemented her reputation as one of the most polarizing first ladies in American history.

Critics called Mary gaudy, greedy, and vulgar, and some reporters questioned her sanity. Elizabeth Keckley, Mary's seamstress and confidant, published a book portraying Mary as petty and narcissistic, which ended their friendship and added to her controversial image. The tragedies and challenges Mary faced, combined with societal expectations and biases of the time, ultimately contributed to her downfall.

Mary's response to personal debt and the loss of her husband illustrate the challenges and expectations she faced, impacting her public legacy. The arrest and trial for insanity and the criticism of her behavior, as well as the ensuing commitment to an asylum, illustrated the culmination of personal tragedies and societal pressures that marred her legacy. Her property was taken from her after her trial.

Despite these adversities, Mary Todd Lincoln relished her role as First Lady, bringing energy, intelligence, and strength to the office. Her ambition, instability, and refusal to conform to gender expectations made her one of the most vilified women in the White Hou ...