Martha Washington

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 2, 1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Although people only started using the term decades after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States.

Martha Washington
First Lady of the United States
In role April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
President	George Washington
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Abigail Adams
Personal details
Born	(1731-06-02)June 2, 1731 Chestnut Grove Plantation, New Kent County, Virginia
Died	May 22, 1802(1802-05-22) (aged 70) Mount Vernon, Virginia
Spouse(s)	Daniel Parke Custis (1749-1758) George Washington (1759-1799)
Relations	John Dandridge (father) and Frances Jones (mother)
Children	Daniel Parke Custis, Jr., Frances Custis, John Parke "Jacky" Custis, Martha Parke "Patsy" Custis
Occupation	First Lady of the United States

Early life

She was born on June 2, 1731, at Chestnut Grove Plantation near Williamsburg, Virginia. Her parents were John Dandridge, an immigrant from England, and his wife Frances Jones. Her education consisted of the womanly arts such as needlework and playing musical instruments. Later in life, she would learn to manage a plantation.

Marriage

At 18, she married Daniel Parke Custis, a wealthy tobacco planter 20 years older than her. She bore him four children. Only two, John "Jacky" and Martha "Patsy", survived to young adulthood. She was widowed in 1757 at age 26. In 1759, she married George Washington, a colonel in the colonial militia. Their marriage was one of mutual affection and respect, but not one of passion. The Washingtons had no biological children.

Personal life

During the American Revolutionary War, Martha visited the cold and starving Continental troops spending the winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She donated as much food as possible, and sewed clothing for the soldiers. She nursed those who were ill or dying. She urged local women to do the same. Her commitment to the welfare of the veterans of the Revolution would remain lifelong. They addressed her as "Lady Washington."

First Lady

Washington was unanimously elected president in 1789. Martha served as First Lady from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797. She found the job unpleasant. She complained of the journalists who followed her everywhere (even to the circus with her grandson), and of the many restrictions placed upon her as First Lady (she was not allowed to accept dinner invitations, for example).

She set many of the customs and standards that were observed by future First Ladies. She retired to Mount Vernon with her husband after serving her country.

Death

She died in Mount Vernon on May 22, 1802. Her obituary (death notice) was widely printed in regional newspapers. She is buried in the vault at Mount Vernon. She was the first historical female figure to be depicted by the United States government on postage stamps and currency.

Gallery

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  Martha Washington in 1757

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  Tomb at Mount Vernon

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  Coin reverse

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  Dollar bill, 1886

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  Dollar bill, 1891

Martha Washington Media

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  When Martha Washington was eight years old. Courtesy of Col. Henry T. Chapman, New York City. An image taken from "Some old historic landmarks of Virginia and Maryland, described in a hand-book for the tourist over the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon electric railway", by William H. Snowden, published and printed by G. H. Ramey & son, Alexandria, Va.,1902.

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  Martha Dandridge Custis in 1757: mezzotint by John Folwell (1863) after a portrait by John Wollaston

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  The Marriage of Washington to Martha Custis by Junius Brutus Stears (1849)

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  Martha Washington by Rembrandt Peale, circa 1856, based on a portrait by his father, Charles Willson Peale

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  Republican Court, or, Lady Washington's Reception Day by Daniel Huntington (c. 1861)

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  The Washington Family by Edward Savage

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  Lady Washington by Charles Willson Peale (date unknown)

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  Tomb of George Washington (Right) and Martha Washington (Left)

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  Martha Washington 1902 issue stamp