Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Ann (née Todd) Lincoln (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.

A member of a large, wealthy Kentucky family, Mary was well educated. After living in the Todd House and a finishing school during her teens, she moved to Springfield, Illinois, where she lived for a time with her married sister Elizabeth Edwards. Mary was courted by Stephen Douglas before she married Abraham Lincoln. Later they debated in their campaigns for the presidency. She and Lincoln had four sons together, only one of whom outlived her. Their home of about fifteen years still stands in Springfield.

Mary Lincoln suffered from migraine headaches, may have had bipolar disorder and had other severe illness through much of her adult life. She supported her husband throughout his presidency. She witnessed his being fatally shot when they were at Ford's Theatre together.

Read more about Mary Todd Lincoln:  Early Life and Education, Marriage and Family, Lincoln's Career and Home Life, White House Years, Widow and Later Life, Death, Representations in Other Media, Family

Famous quotes containing the words todd lincoln, mary, todd and/or lincoln:

    My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry ‘til a more convenient season.
    —Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882)

    Remember, a woman has to work harder than a man and have more patience in order to achieve success.
    —Margaret Mary Morgan, U.S. suffragist, print shop owner, and politician. As quoted in Dianne Feinstein, ch. 5, by Jerry Roberts (1994)

    You don’t have power if you surrender all your principles—you have office.
    —Ron Todd (b. 1927)

    I am slow to listen to criminations among friends, and never espouse their quarrels on either side. My sincere wish is that both sides will allow bygones to be bygones, and look to the present & future only.
    —Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)