Charles August Lindbergh - Early Life

Early Life

Lindbergh was born Carl Månsson, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Lovisa Carlén, the 19-year-old mistress of Ola Månsson, a member of the Riksdag and a bank manager. When accused of bribery and embezzlement, Ola Månsson changed his name to August Lindbergh, left his wife and seven children, and fled to the United States with his mistress and their illegitimate infant son, Carl, in 1859. Lovisa became Louisa and little Carl became Charles August Lindbergh.

They settled in Melrose, Minnesota, and had six more children. August worked as a farmer and a blacksmith for 26 years before marrying Louisa in 1885; he had become a widower in 1864 with the death of his first wife in Sweden.

Charles August Lindbergh studied law at the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1883 and being admitted to the bar the same year. In 1887, Lindbergh married Mary LaFond, with whom he had two daughters, Lillian and Eva. Mary LaFond died in 1898.

In 1901, Charles married Evangeline Lodge Land (1876–1954). They separated in 1918, their only child being the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, who also became an antiwar leader.

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