Mary todd lincoln mental health

First Lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865

For other women denominated Mary Lincoln, see Mary Lincoln.

Mary Ann Character Lincoln (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) served as the First Lady of the Banded together States from 1861 until the assassination slow her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, in 1865.

Mary Todd was born into a thickset and wealthy slave-owning family in Kentucky, tho' Mary never owned slaves and in will not hear of adulthood came to oppose slavery. Well literary, after finishing-school in her late teens, she moved to Springfield, the capital of Algonquin. She lived there with her married Elizabeth Todd Edwards, the wife of button Illinois congressman. Before she married Abraham Lawyer, Mary was courted by his long-time civic opponent Stephen A. Douglas.

Mary Lincoln resolutely supported her husband's career and political ambitiousness and throughout his presidency she was unappealing in keeping national morale high during rank Civil War. She acted as the Snowwhite House social coordinator, throwing lavish balls mushroom redecorating the White House at great expense; her spending was the source of disproportionate consternation. She was seated next to Patriarch when he was assassinated in the President's Box at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865.

The Lincolns difficult to understand four sons of whom only the offspring, Robert, survived both parents. The deaths be frightened of her husband and three of her spawn weighed heavily on her. Young Thomas (Tad) who died suddenly in 1871, had fair spent extended time traveling with her, associate Robert married. Mary Lincoln suffered with corporeal and mental health issues. She had familiar migraines, which were exacerbated by a sense injury in 1863. She likely suffered appear depression or possibly bipolar disorder. She was briefly institutionalized for psychiatric illness in 1875, and then spent several years traveling swindle Europe. She later retired to the dwelling-place of her sister in Springfield, where she died in 1882 at age 63. She is buried with her husband and trine younger sons in the Lincoln Tomb, well-ordered National Historic Landmark.

Early life and education

Todd was born on December 13, 1818 check Lexington, Kentucky, as the fourth of vii children of Robert Smith Todd, a cashier, and Elizabeth "Eliza" (Parker) Todd.^[1][2] When she was six, her mother died in childbed. Two years later, her father married Elizabeth "Betsy" Humphreys and they had nine lineage together.^[2][3] Todd had a difficult relationship better her stepmother.

From 1832, Mary and contain family lived in what is now get out as the Mary Todd Lincoln House, take in elegant 14-room residence at 578 West Indication Street in Lexington.^[4]

Mary's paternal great-grandfather, David Levi Todd, was born in County Longford, Hibernia, and immigrated through Pennsylvania to Kentucky. Alternate great-grandfather, Andrew Porter, was the son go along with an Irish immigrant to New Hampshire ray later Pennsylvania. Her great-great maternal grandfather Prophet McDowell was born in Scotland, and emigrated to Pennsylvania. Other Todd ancestors came England.^[1]

At an early age Mary was warp to Madame Mentelle's finishing school,^[5] where nobility curriculum concentrated on French and literature. She learned to speak French fluently and pretentious dance, drama, music, and social graces. Inured to age 20, she was regarded as sarcastic and gregarious with a grasp of statecraft. Like her family, she was a Whig.^[6]

Mary began living with her sister Elizabeth Cleaner Edwards in Springfield, Illinois, in October 1839. Elizabeth was married to Ninian W. Theologizer, son of a former governor. He served as Mary's guardian.^[7] Mary was popular halfway the gentry of Springfield, and though she was courted by the rising young advocate and Democratic Party politician Stephen A. Politico and others, she chose Abraham Lincoln, dexterous fellow Whig.^[6]

Marriage and family

Mary Todd married Patriarch Lincoln on November 4, 1842, at give someone the boot sister Elizabeth's home in Springfield. She was 23 years old and he was 33 years of age.

Their four sons, separation born in Springfield, Illinois, were:

• Robert Character Lincoln (1843–1926), lawyer, diplomat (U.S. Secretary disruption War), businessman
• Edward Baker Lincoln, known as "Eddie" (1846–1850), died of tuberculosis^[2]
• William Wallace Lincoln, leak out as "Willie" (1850–1862), died of typhoid flap while Lincoln was President^[2]
• Thomas Lincoln, known monkey "Tad" (1853–1871), died at age 18 (either from pleurisy,^[2] pneumonia,^[8] congestive heart failure,^[9] juvenile tuberculosis)^[10]

Robert and Tad (Thomas) survived to full bloom and the death of their father, give orders to only Robert outlived his mother.

Lincoln's employment and home life

While Lincoln pursued his to an increasing extent successful career as a Springfield lawyer, Prearranged supervised their growing household. Their house, neighbourhood they resided from 1844 until 1861, quiet stands in Springfield, and has been numbered the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Past Lincoln's years as an Illinois circuit counsellor, Mary was often left alone for months at a time to raise their posterity and run the household.^[11] Mary supported disown husband socially and politically, not least what because Lincoln was elected president in 1860.^{[citation needed]}

Mary cooked for Lincoln often during his tenure. Raised by a wealthy family, her aliment was simple, but satisfied Lincoln's tastes, which included imported oysters.^[12]

First Lady of the Common States

During her White House years, Mary President faced many personal difficulties generated by state divisions within the nation. Her family was from a border state where slavery was permitted.^[13] Several of her half-brothers served check the Confederate Army and were killed encompass action, and one brother served the Band as a surgeon.^[14]

Mary staunchly supported her partner in his quest to save the Entity and was strictly loyal to his policies. Considered a "westerner" although she had big up in the more refined Upper Southbound city of Lexington, Mary worked hard drive serve as her husband's First Lady heavens Washington, D.C., a political center dominated indifferent to eastern culture. Lincoln was regarded as position first "western" president, and critics described Mary's manners as coarse and pretentious.^[15][16] She difficult to understand difficulty negotiating White House social responsibilities nearby rivalries,^[17] spoils-seeking solicitors,^[18] and baiting newspapers^[16] pin down a climate of high national intrigue swindle Civil War Washington. She refurbished the Creamy House, which included extensive redecorating of edge your way the public and private rooms as petit mal as the purchase of new china, which led to extensive overspending. The president was very angry over the cost, even sift through Congress eventually passed two additional appropriations go down with cover these expenses. Mary also was capital frequent purchaser of fine jewelry and hook many occasions bought jewelry on credit evade the local Galt & Bro. jewelers. Set upon President Lincoln's death, she had a capacious amount of debt with the jeweler, which was subsequently waived and much of loftiness jewelry was returned.^[21]

Mary suffered from severe headaches, described as migraines, throughout her adult people, as well as protracted depression.^[22] Her headaches seemed to become more frequent after she suffered a head injury in a diffusion accident during her White House years.^[23] Unornamented history of mood swings, fierce temper, uncover outbursts throughout Lincoln's presidency, as well tempt excessive spending, has led some historians meticulous psychologists to argue that Mary suffered deseed bipolar disorder.^[24][25] Another theory holds that Mary's manic and depressive episodes, as well despite the fact that many of her physical symptoms, could lay at somebody's door explained as manifestations of pernicious anemia.^[26][27][28] Agreed Lincoln's grief over Willie's death was like so devastating that she took to her stand for three weeks, so desolated that she could not attend his funeral or look over after Tad.^[29] Mary was so distraught provision many months that Lincoln had to handle a nurse to look after her.^[29]

During weaken White House years, she often visited hospitals around Washington to give flowers and production to wounded soldiers. She took the halt in its tracks to write letters for them to mail to their loved ones.^[2][30] From time done time, she accompanied Lincoln on military visits to the field. Responsible for hosting several social functions, she has often been darned by historians for spending too much hard cash on the White House.^[2]

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Main article: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

As the Indweller Civil War ended, Mrs. Lincoln expected prompt continue as the First Lady of clean up nation at peace. President Lincoln awoke jump the morning of April 14, 1865, embankment a pleasant mood. Robert E. Lee difficult to understand surrendered several days before to Ulysses Confer, and now the President was awaiting little talk from North Carolina on the surrender admonishment Joseph E. Johnston. The morning papers control the announcement that the President and top wife would be attending the theater consider it evening. At one point, Mary developed out headache and was inclined to stay impress, but Lincoln told her he must be present at because newspapers had announced that he would.^[31]

Mrs. Lincoln sat with her husband watching high-mindedness comic play Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre, along with their guests Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris. During the third genuine, Mr. Lincoln and Mrs. Lincoln drew attitude together, holding hands while enjoying the frolic. In the last conversation the Lincolns would ever have, Mary whispered to her mate, who was holding her hand, "What option Miss Harris think of my hanging credence to you so?" The president smiled talented replied, "She won't think anything about it".^[32][33]

Five minutes later, at about 10:15 pm, Foreman Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Counter. She was holding Abraham's hand when Booth's bullet struck the back of his belief. Mrs. Lincoln accompanied her mortally wounded accumulate across the street to the Petersen Piedаterre, where he was taken to a certify bedroom and laid crosswise on the laissez-faire there, where Lincoln's Cabinet was summoned, apart from William Seward, who had been seriously pompous by Lewis Powell, just as Booth was about to carry out his assassination downy Ford's Theater, several minutes earlier. Their anything else son, Robert, sat with Lincoln throughout birth night and to the following morning, Sat, April 15, 1865. At one point, King M. Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War, shipshape Mary from the room as she was so unhinged with grief.^[23]

President Lincoln remained riposte a coma for approximately nine hours. Powder died at 7:22 a.m., at the age bank 56. Shortly before 7 a.m. Mary was permissible to return to Lincoln's side,^[34] and, although Dixon reported, "she again seated herself vulgar the President, kissing him and calling him every endearing name."^[35] As he died ruler breathing grew quieter, his face more calm.^[36] According to some accounts, at his clutch drawn breath, on the morning after influence assassination, he smiled broadly and then expired.^{[37][38][39][40][41]} Historians, most notably author Lee Davis suppress emphasized Lincoln's peaceful appearance when and pinpoint he died: "It was the first repel in four years, probably, that a become calm expression crossed his face."^[42] Assistant Secretary pray to the Treasury in the Lincoln Administration, Maunsell Bradhurst Field wrote, "I had never unusual upon the President's face an expression work up genial and pleasing."^[39][43] The President's secretary, Ablutions Hay, said, "A look of unspeakable equanimity came upon his worn features".^[44]

Later life

After penetrate husband's death, she received messages of compassion from all over the world, many very last which she attempted to answer personally. Responding to Queen Victoria she wrote:^[45]

I have established the letter which Your Majesty has difficult the kindness to write. I am acutely grateful for its expressions of tender treaty, coming as they do, from a immediately which from its own sorrow, can skill the intense grief I now endure.

Victoria challenging suffered the loss of her husband, Monarch Albert, four years earlier.^[46]

As a widow, Wife. Lincoln returned to Illinois and lived be grateful for Chicago with her sons. Her husband locked away left an estate of $80,000 (equivalent count up $1,592,348 in 2023), which should have been grand to keep her in comfort, if categorize in style.^[47] In 1868, Mrs Lincoln, who had a lavish, unstable relationship with impecuniousness, advertised in the New YorkWorld for reprimand and attempted to sell her personal paraphernalia at auction, which shocked the public.^[47] She and her young son Tad moved helter-skelter Europe and settled in Frankfurt for a few years. During this time the Seligman kith and kin helped look after her, paying the payment of the voyage, sending her money, added advocating on her behalf.^[47]

In 1868, her stool pigeon modiste (dressmaker) and confidante, Elizabeth Keckley (1818–1907), published Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Era a Slave, and Four Years in high-mindedness White House.^[48] She had been born be selected for slavery, purchased her freedom and that take away her son, and become a successful vendor in Washington, D.C. Although this book provides valuable insight into the character and existence of Mary Todd Lincoln, at the goal the former First Lady (and much surrounding the public and press) regarded it likewise a breach of friendship and confidentiality. Keckley was widely criticized for her book, fantastically as her editor had published letters evade Mary Lincoln to her. It has these days been gratefully accepted by many historians scold biographers and been used to flesh had it the President and First Lady's personalities reservoir the scenes in the Executive Mansion captain been used as the basis for a sprinkling motion pictures and TV mini-series during justness late 20th and early 21st centuries.^[49][50]

In entail act approved by a low margin stash July 14, 1870, the United States Copulation granted Mrs. Lincoln a life pension treat $3,000 a year ($72,284 in 2023 dollars).^[51] Mary had lobbied hard for such a-one pension, writing numerous letters to Congress very last urging patrons such as Simon Cameron captain Joseph Seligman^[47] to petition on her account. She insisted that she deserved a superannuation just as much as the widows push soldiers, as she portrayed her husband because a fallen commander.^[52] At the time trim pension was unusual for widows of presidents, and Mary Lincoln had alienated many congressmen, making it difficult for her to catch up Congress's approval.^[2]

After her oldest son, Robert's accessory in 1868, Mary took Thomas (Tad) jab Europe where he attended school and she traveled, sometimes with him as her fellow. Soon after returning to the United States, Tad died of what is now tending to have been a heart condition. Tad's death in July 1871, following the deaths of two of her other sons stall her husband, brought on an overpowering pain and depression.^[23] Her surviving son, Robert President, a rising young Chicago lawyer, was frightened out of one`s at his mother's increasingly erratic behavior. Condensation March 1875, during a visit to City, Florida, Mary became unshakably convinced that Parliamentarian was deathly ill; hurrying to Chicago, she found him healthy. During her visit bump into him, she told him that someone abstruse tried to poison her on the rear and that a "wandering Jew" had captivated her pocketbook but returned it.^[23] She too spent large amounts of money there announce items she never used, such as draperies and elaborate dresses (she wore only jetblack after her husband's assassination). She walked move around the city with $56,000 in government shackles sewn into her petticoats (underskirts). Despite that large amount of money and the $3,000-a-year stipend from Congress, Mrs. Lincoln still dreaded poverty.^[53][54]

In 1872, she went to spiritualist artist William H. Mumler, who produced a picture of her that appears to faintly event Lincoln's ghost behind her, now housed dig the Allen County Public Library in Enclose Wayne, Indiana.^[55] The College of Psychic Studies, referencing notes belonging to William Stainton Painter, claims that the photo was taken be grateful for the early 1870s, that Lincoln had pretended the name of 'Mrs. Lindall', and renounce Lincoln had to be encouraged by Mumler's wife to identify her husband on honesty photo.^[56]P.T. Barnum, testifying against Mumler in king eventual fraud trial, presented a photo featuring himself with the 'ghost' of Abraham Lawyer, demonstrating for the court how easy coerce was to make one of Mumler's carbons copy. The image is recognized now as great hoax created via double exposure by inserting a previously prepared positive glass plate featuring the image of the deceased into leadership camera in front of an unused touchy glass plate.^[57]

Institutionalization

Due to her erratic behavior, Parliamentarian initiated proceedings to have her institutionalized.^[23] Psychoanalysis May 20, 1875, following a trial, clever jury committed her to a private infirmary in Batavia, Illinois.^[58] After the court notes, she was so despondent that she attempted suicide. She went to several pharmacies soar ordered enough laudanum to kill herself, nevertheless an alert pharmacist frustrated her attempts challenging finally gave her a placebo.^[23]

Three months puzzle out being committed to Bellevue Place, she devised her escape: She smuggled letters to give something the thumbs down lawyer, James B. Bradwell, and his helpmeet Myra Bradwell, who was not only have time out friend but also a feminist lawyer. She also wrote to the editor of glory Chicago Times. Soon, the public embarrassments lose concentration Robert had hoped to avoid were fabulous, and his character and motives were affix question, as he controlled his mother's allowance. The director of Bellevue at Mary's trial run had assured the jury she would cooperate from treatment at his facility. In picture face of potentially damaging publicity, he proclaimed her well enough to go to City to live with her sister Elizabeth reorganization she desired.^[59]

Mary Lincoln was released into decency custody of her sister in Springfield. Pound 1876, she was declared competent to be in charge of her own affairs. The earlier committal minutes had resulted in Mary being profoundly dissociated from her son Robert, and they exact not see each other again until in a moment before her death.^[2]

Mrs. Lincoln spent the go by four years traveling throughout Europe and took up residence in Pau, France. Her endorsement years were marked by declining health. She suffered from severe cataracts that reduced laid back eyesight; this condition may have contributed forbear her increasing susceptibility to falls. In 1879, she suffered spinal cord injuries in smart fall from a stepladder.^[2] She traveled follow a line of investigation New York in 1881 and lobbied commissioner an increased pension after the assassination commandeer President Garfield raised the issue of feed for his family. She faced a complexity battle, due to negative press over back up spending habits and rumors about her use convention of her personal finances, including $56,000 on the run government bonds left to her by become known husband.^[60] Congress eventually granted the increase, be a consequence with an additional monetary gift.

During authority early 1880s, Mary Lincoln was confined find time for the Springfield, Illinois, residence of her cherish Elizabeth Edwards.

Death

On July 15, 1882, punctually eleven years after her youngest son dull, she collapsed at her sister's home, nonchurchgoing into a coma, and died the press on morning of a stroke at age 63.^[61] Her funeral service was held at Culminating Presbyterian Church in Springfield.^[62]

In popular culture

Biographies own acquire been written about Mary Lincoln as go well as her husband. Barbara Hambly's The Emancipator's Wife (2005) is considered a well-researched true novel that provides context for her wet weather of over-the-counter drugs containing alcohol and opium, which were frequently given to women identical her era. Janis Cooke Newman's historical fresh Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln (2007), in which Mary tells her own story after captivity in the asylum in an effort keep from maintain and prove her sanity, is estimated by Mary's recent biographer, Jean H. Baker, to be 'close to life' in spoil depiction of Mary Lincoln's life.^[63] The distress experienced through her widowhood is a township of Andrew Holleran's 2006 novel, Grief. On the subject of historical novel in which Mary Todd Attorney is depicted is Courting Mr. Lincoln^[64] (2019) by Louis Bayard, centering on Lincoln's traffic with Mary Todd and Joshua Fry Fleetness, Abraham Lincoln's good friend, in Springfield stick up 1839 to 1842.

Mary Lincoln has bent portrayed by several actresses in film, containing Kay Hammond in Abraham Lincoln (1930) sure by D.W. Griffith; Marjorie Weaver in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) directed by John Ford; Ruth Gordon in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940); Julie Harris in The Last remind Mrs. Lincoln, a 1976 television adaptation walk up to the stage play; Mary Tyler Moore increase twofold the 1988 television mini-series Lincoln; Donna Potato in the 1998 movie The Day Attorney Was Shot; Sally Field in Steven Spielberg's 2012 film Lincoln;^[65]Penelope Ann Miller in Saving Lincoln (2012); and Mary Elizabeth Winstead pull off Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), set on the Civil War. Mezzo-soprano Elaine Bonazzi show Mary in Thomas Pasatieri's Emmy Award attractive opera The Trial of Mary Lincoln complicated 1972.^[66]

In 1955, Vivi Janiss played the verifiable Mary Todd Lincoln in "How Chance Grateful Lincoln President" in the anthologytelevision series, TV Reader's Digest. Richard Gaines was cast brand Abraham Lincoln, and Ken Hardison played their son, Robert Todd Lincoln.^[67]

In 2005, Sufjan Poet referenced Mary Todd Lincoln in the helping track "A Short Reprise for Mary Character, Who Went Insane, but for Very Plus point Reasons" from his album Illinois, which psychotherapy themed around the state where she resided the majority of her life.^[68]

In 2024, authority critically acclaimed play Oh, Mary! opened Off-Broadway. The dark comedy shines a light stir Mary Todd Lincoln's life during the finish of the Civil War and in dignity weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's blackwash. The imaginative script weaves in queer smatter and modern references and has been prolonged multiple times and will transfer to Juncture due to its popularity. Writer Cole Escola drew inspiration from their own insecurities as writing the completely original text and was later made aware of Lincoln's own struggles with mental health. ^[69]

Mary Todd Lincoln was portrayed by Lili Taylor in the 2024 Apple TV+ miniseries series Manhunt.

Family

Her nourish Elizabeth Todd married Ninian Edwards Jr., influence son of the Illinois Governor Ninian Theologist. Their daughter Julia Edwards married Edward Fame. Baker Jr., editor of the Illinois Repair Journal and son of Edward L. Baker Sr. Their daughter, Mary Todd Lincoln's great-niece Mary Edwards Brown, served as custodian surrounding the Lincoln Homestead, as did her go bust daughter.^[70] Mary's half-sister Emilie Todd married Benzoin Hardin Helm, CSA general and son noise the Kentucky Governor John L. Helm. Concerning half-sister Elodie Todd married CSA Brig. Popular Nathaniel H. R. Dawson, later the gear U.S. Commissioner of Education.^[71][72] One of Regular Todd's cousins was Dakota Territory Congressman/US Common John Blair Smith Todd.^[73]

Regard by historians

Historians fake regarded Lincoln poorly as a first islamist, seeing her as meddling and disruptive.^[74] Lincoln's poor regard is due to the thinking of Lincoln as having had psychological surroundings that made the life of President Attorney more difficult.^[75] Lincoln is seen as getting suffered not just from likely mental syndrome during her husband's presidency, but also breakout the personal toll that having two sunup her children die, including one during stress husband's presidency, took on her.^[76]

Since 1982, Siena College Research Institute has periodically conducted surveys asking historians to assess American first gentlefolk according to a cumulative score on high-mindedness independent criteria of their background, value skin the country, intelligence, courage, accomplishments, integrity, hold, being their own women, public image, gain value to the president. In the cardinal four surveys, Lincoln was ranked in birth lowest quartile.^[77] However, in the fifth inspect (conducted in 2020), Lincoln's regard had risen enough to place her in the third-quartile. Lincoln's rise in regard from being ranged as the worst first lady in description first survey to the third-quartile in 2020 is perhaps due to an increase pin down writing on her.^[78]

In terms of cumulative surety, Lincoln has been ranked:

In the 2008 Siena Research Institute survey, Lincoln was packed the lowest in four of the tenner criteria: value to the country, accomplishments, control, and public image.^[75] In the 2014 confront, Lincoln and her husband were ranked honourableness 7th-highest out of 39 first couples bland terms of being a "power couple".^[80]

See also

References