Home > Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Ann Todd ( December 13, 1818 - July 16, 1882) was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of prominent residents of the city, Robert Smith Todd and Eliza Parker. At the age of twenty, Mary Todd moved to Illinois where her sister Elizabeth was living. Her sister, Elizabeth, the fiancee of then-future Illinois Governor Ninian Edwards introduced Mary to a young lawyer, named Abraham Lincoln.On November 4, 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln who later become the 16th president of the United States. Their children were:
- Robert Todd Lincoln : b. August 1, 1843 in Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the capital of the State of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County. The city was founded in 1819, became the county seat in 1823, and received its city charter in 1840. It was made the capital of Illinois in 1837, and the Legislatu - d. July 26July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. Events 1139 Afonso, then a count, is procclaimed first king of Portugal and declares independence from Castile 1469 Battle of Edgecote Moor 1788, 1926Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 See also 1926 in aviation 1926 in film 1926 in literature 1926 in mu in Manchester, Vermont.
- Edward Baker Lincoln : b. March 10March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in Leap years). There are 296 days remaining. Events 241 BC First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands The Romans sinks the Carthaginian fleet; end of First Punic War. 1496 Christoph, 1846Events January 5 The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom February 5 The Oregon Spectator becomes the first newspaper on the Pacific coast of the United States. February 10 Many Mormons in Springfield, Illinois - d. February 1February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 333 days remaining, (334 in leap years). Events 1662 The Chinese pirate Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege. 1788 Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet pate 1850Events January 4 The first American ice-skating club is formed ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). January 29 Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the United States Congress February 28 University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah March 7 United in Springfield, Illinois
- William Wallace Lincoln : b. December 21, 1850 in Springfield, Illinois - d. February 20, 1862 in Washington, D.C.
- Thomas (Tad) Lincoln : b. April 4, 1853 in Springfield, Illinois - d. July 16, 1871 in Chicago, Illinois.
Mary Lincoln was instantly disliked when she arrived in Washinton. Many of the local women in society found her to be brash and a bit arrogant. She was accused throughout her husband's term as President as a lady who did not know her place. Papers at the time critized her for using tax payers money to refurnish the White House as well as shopping sprees for herself. After her husband's death her repuatation became fair game for people to attack. Former Lincoln aides and cabinet members all visibly attacked Mrs. Lincoln as being an umcompassioante woman and some even as far as hinting she was a Confederate spy.
Over the years Mary Lincoln's name has been maligned by many people, most of which never knew the woman or the circumstances she found herself in. What is rarely mentioned are the countless hours she would spend at the local veteran’s hospital and the endless amount of money and aid she lent to various organizations.
Mrs. Lincoln was committed by her son Robert to an insane asylum in Batavia, Illinois in 1875. She was released three months later.
Mary Todd Lincoln died at the Springfield, Illinois home of her sister Elizabeth on July 16, 1882.
