Mary Todd Lincoln
| Mary Todd Lincoln | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First Lady of the United States | |
|
In role March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 |
|
| President | Abraham Lincoln |
| Preceded by | Harriet Lane (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Eliza Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary Ann Todd December 13, 1818 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 1882 (aged 63) Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Spouse(s) | Abraham Lincoln (1842–1865; his death) |
| Children |
Robert Edward Willie Tad |
| Religion | Presbyterianism |
| Signature |  |
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. She dropped the name Ann after her younger sister, Ann Todd [Clark], was born, and did not use the name Todd after marrying.
A member of a large, wealthy Kentucky family, Mary was well educated. After living in the Todd House and finishing school during her teens, she moved to Springfield, Illinois, where she lived with her married sister Elizabeth Edwards. Before she married Abraham Lincoln, Mary was courted by his long-time political opponent Stephen A. Douglas. She and Lincoln had four sons together, only one of whom outlived her. Their home of about 17 years still stands at Eighth and Jackson Streets in Springfield, Illinois.
She supported her husband throughout his presidency. She witnessed his fatal shooting when they were together in the President's Box at Ford's Theatre on Tenth Street in Washington.
Mary was involuntarily institutionalized for psychiatric disease ten years after her husband's murder. She also complained of many physical symptoms during her adult life.
Mary was born in Lexington, Kentucky as the fourth of seven children of Robert Smith Todd, a banker, and Elizabeth (Parker) Todd. Her family were slaveholders, and Mary was raised in comfort and refinement. When Mary was six, her mother died. Two years later, her father married Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys and they had nine children together. Mary had a difficult relationship with her stepmother.
From 1832, Mary and her family lived in what is now known as the Mary Todd Lincoln House, an elegant 14-room residence at 578 West Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky.
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