MARY TODD LINCOLN
Name: Mary Ann Todd Lincoln
Born: December 13, 1818 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Died: July 16, 1882 Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 - July 16, 1882) was the wife of the 16th
President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and was First Lady of the
United States from 1861 to 1865.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Robert Smith Todd and Eliza
Parker, prominent residents of the city. They were slaveholders, as were their
other relatives. Mary Todd's mother died in 1825, and her father married
Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys Todd in 1826. Mary Todd had a difficult relationship
with her stepmother. Beginning in 1832, Mary Todd's home was what is now known
as the Mary Todd Lincoln House, a 14-room upper-class residence in Lexington.
From her father's marriage to her mother and step-mother, Mary Todd had 15
siblings.
At the age of twenty, in 1839, Mary Todd left the family home and moved to
Springfield, Illinois, where her sister Elizabeth was already living. Although
the flirtatious and intelligent Mary Todd was courted by the rising young lawyer
and politician Stephen A. Douglas, Mary was unexpectedly attracted by Douglas's
lower-status rival and fellow lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. Elizabeth facilitated
their courtship and introduced Mary to Abraham on 16 December. It is reported
that, on learning her surname was spelled with two "d"s, he retorted "Why? One
was enough for God". After a troubled engagement that was marked by at least one
breakup, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were married on November 4, 1842. Almost
exactly nine months later, on August 1, 1843, their first son, Robert Todd
Lincoln, was born.
Name: Mary Ann Todd Lincoln
Born: December 13, 1818 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Died: July 16, 1882 Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 - July 16, 1882) was the wife of the 16th
President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and was First Lady of the
United States from 1861 to 1865.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Robert Smith Todd and Eliza
Parker, prominent residents of the city. They were slaveholders, as were their
other relatives. Mary Todd's mother died in 1825, and her father married
Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys Todd in 1826. Mary Todd had a difficult relationship
with her stepmother. Beginning in 1832, Mary Todd's home was what is now known
as the Mary Todd Lincoln House, a 14-room upper-class residence in Lexington.
From her father's marriage to her mother and step-mother, Mary Todd had 15
siblings.
At the age of twenty, in 1839, Mary Todd left the family home and moved to
Springfield, Illinois, where her sister Elizabeth was already living. Although
the flirtatious and intelligent Mary Todd was courted by the rising young lawyer
and politician Stephen A. Douglas, Mary was unexpectedly attracted by Douglas's
lower-status rival and fellow lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. Elizabeth facilitated
their courtship and introduced Mary to Abraham on 16 December. It is reported
that, on learning her surname was spelled with two "d"s, he retorted "Why? One
was enough for God". After a troubled engagement that was marked by at least one
breakup, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were married on November 4, 1842. Almost
exactly nine months later, on August 1, 1843, their first son, Robert Todd
Lincoln, was born.