Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (née Todd; December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the wife of the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and was First Lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865.

Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln at age 43, (1861)
First Lady of the United States
In role March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865
President	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Harriet Lane
Succeeded by	Eliza McCardle Johnson
Personal details
Born	Mary Ann Todd (1818-12-13)December 13, 1818 Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Died	July 16, 1882(1882-07-16) (aged 63) Springfield, Illinois, United States
Spouse(s)	Abraham Lincoln (1842–1865)
Relations	Robert Smith Todd (Father) Eliza (Parker) Todd (Mother)
Children	Robert Todd Lincoln Edward Lincoln Willie Lincoln Tad Lincoln
Signature

Early life

She was born in Lexington, Kentucky. Her father was Robert Smith Todd and her mother was Eliza Parker. Her parents were prominent residents of the city. Mary's paternal great-grandfather, David Levi Todd, was born in County Longford, Ireland, and emigrated through Pennsylvania to Kentucky. Her great-great maternal grandfather Samuel McDowell was born in Scotland, and emigrated to Pennsylvania. Other Todd ancestors came from England. When she was around twenty years old, Mary came to Illinois where her sister Elizabeth lived. There she met Abraham Lincoln. He was a young lawyer at that time.

Marriage and family

She married Abraham Lincoln on November 4, 1842.

The Lincolns loved one another very much. But, at times, their relationship became troubled. The Lincolns had four children:

1. Robert Todd Lincoln
2. Edward (Eddie) Baker Lincoln
3. William (Willie) Wallace Lincoln
4. Thomas (Tad) Lincoln

The last person known to be of direct Lincoln lineage, Robert's grandson "Bud" Beckwith died in 1985.

First Lady

Mary Lincoln was well-educated lady. She was also interested in public affairs. She also shared her husband’s ambition. At times, she became touchy and irritated. The newspapers sometimes criticized her for spending the government’s money to buy new furniture for the White House. She went to the hospitals during this time, to help wounded soldiers.

Personal life

After the assassination of her husband in 1865, the death of her two sons, Willie and Thomas, had made her very sad. She became very depressed. His son Robert wanted to take control of his mother's money. He sent his mother to an insane asylum. After three months, she was freed. She never forgave her son. She spent about four years in France in a city named Pau. She also traveled to many parts of Europe.

Health

During her last years, her health became very weak. In 1879, she suffered spinal cord injuries when she fell from a stepladder. She also got cataracts and her eyesight became weak.

Death

Mary Todd Lincoln's crypt

During the early 1880s, Mary Lincoln was confined to the Springfield, Illinois residence of her sister Elizabeth Edwards. She died there on July 16, 1882, at age 63. She was interred in the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield alongside her husband.

Mary Todd Lincoln Media

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  Lincoln Home, Springfield, Illinois, Eighth and Jackson Streets, residence (1844–1861)

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  Mary Todd Lincoln

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  An 1867 lithograph by Currier and Ives shows Abraham Lincoln with Mary Lincoln and their sons, Robert and Thomas ("Tad")

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  Depicted in the presidential booth of Ford's Theatre, from left to right, are assassin John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Clara Harris, and Henry Rathbone

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  Robert Todd Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait, seated

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  Edward "Eddie" Baker Lincoln (1846-1850), Abraham Lincoln's second son

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  William Wallace Lincoln

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  Thomas Lincoln

Other websites

• Mary Todd Lincoln Research Site
• ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS: A One Page Summary of Mary Todd Lincoln's Life
• White House profile
• Works by or about Mary Todd Lincoln in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Mary Todd Lincoln Quotes
• Original Manuscript Letters: Mary Todd Lincoln Shapell Manuscript Foundation