Martha Washington - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martha Washington | |
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First Lady of the United States | |
In role April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | |
President | George Washington |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Abigail Adams |
Personal details | |
Born | Chestnut Grove Plantation, New Kent County, Virginia | June 2, 1731
Died | May 22, 1802 Mount Vernon, Virginia | (aged 70)
Spouse(s) | Daniel Parke Custis (1749-1758) George Washington (1759-1799) |
Relations | John Dandridge (father) and Frances Jones (mother) |
Children | Daniel Parke Custis, Jr., Frances Custis, John Parke "Jacky" Custis, Martha Parke "Patsy" Custis |
Occupation | First Lady of the United States |
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 2, 1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Although people only started using the term decades after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States.
Early life
[change | change source]She was born on June 2, 1731, at Chestnut Grove Plantation near Williamsburg, Virginia.[1] Her parents were John Dandridge, an immigrant from England, and his wife Frances Jones. Her education consisted of the womanly arts such as needlework and playing musical instruments. Later in life, she would learn to manage a plantation.
Marriage
[change | change source]At 18, she married Daniel Parke Custis, a wealthy tobacco planter 20 years older than her. She bore him four children. Only two, John "Jacky" and Martha "Patsy", survived to young adulthood. She was widowed in 1757 at age 26. In 1759, she married George Washington, a colonel in the colonial militia. Their marriage was one of mutual affection and respect, but not one of passion. The Washingtons had no biological children.
Personal life
[change | change source]During the American Revolutionary War, Martha visited the cold and starving Continental troops spending the winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She donated as much food as possible, and sewed clothing for the soldiers. She nursed those who were ill or dying. She urged local women to do the same. Her commitment to the welfare of the veterans of the Revolution would remain lifelong. They addressed her as "Lady Washington."
First Lady
[change | change source]Washington was unanimously elected president in 1789. Martha served as First Lady from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797. She found the job unpleasant. She complained of the journalists who followed her everywhere (even to the circus with her grandson), and of the many restrictions placed upon her as First Lady (she was not allowed to accept dinner invitations, for example).
She set many of the customs and standards that were observed by future First Ladies. She retired to Mount Vernon with her husband after serving her country.
Death
[change | change source]She died in Mount Vernon on May 22, 1802. Her obituary (death notice) was widely printed in regional newspapers. She is buried in the vault at Mount Vernon. She was the first historical female figure to be depicted by the United States government on postage stamps and currency.[2]
Gallery
[change | change source]- Martha Washington in 1757
- Tomb at Mount Vernon
- Coin reverse
- Dollar bill, 1886
- Dollar bill, 1891
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Martha Washington Biography
- ↑ "National First Ladies Library: Martha Washington". Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2013-04-29.