Mary Todd Lincoln

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Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 - July 16, 1882) was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States. She acted as the First Lady of the United States from 1861 until 1865.

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. 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. Both married on November 4, 1842.

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

Robert Todd Lincoln: Born: Springfield, Illinois August 1, 1843 – Died: July 26, 1926 in Manchester, Vermont.
Edward (Eddie) Baker Lincoln: Born: Springfield, Illinois March 10, 1846 – Died: February 1 1850 in Springfield, Illinois.
William (Willie) Wallace Lincoln: Born: Springfield, Illinois December 21, 1850 – Died February 20, 1862 in Washington, D.C.
Thomas (Tad) Lincoln: Born: Springfield, Illinois April 4, 1853 – Died: July 16, 1871 in Chicago, Illinois.

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

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.

After the assassination of her husband in April, 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.

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. When Todd Lincoln died at Springfield, Illinois, she was living with her sister Elizabeth.