Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (ne Todd; December 13, 1818 July 16, 1882) was the wife

e 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, in Illinois where she lived for a time with her
married sister Elizabeth Edwards. Before she married Abraham Lincoln, Mary was courted by his long-time
political opponent Stephen A. Douglas. She and Lincoln had four sons together, only one of whom outlived her.
Their home of about 17 years still stands at Eighth and Jackson Streets in Springfield, Illinois.
Mary Lincoln suffered from migraine headaches and other severe illnesses through much of her adult life. She
supported her husband throughout his presidency. She witnessed his fatal shooting when they were together in
the President's Box at Ford's Theatre on Tenth Street in Washington.
Lincoln and Douglas eventually became political rivals in the great Lincoln-Douglas debates for a seat
representing Illinois in the United States Senate in 1858. Although Douglas successfully secured the seat when
elected by the Illinois legislature, Lincoln became famous for his position on slavery, which generated national
support for him.
While Lincoln pursued his increasingly successful career as a Springfield lawyer, Mary supervised their growing
household. Their house, where they resided from 1844 until 1861, still stands in Springfield, and has been
designated the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. During Lincoln's years as an Illinois circuit lawyer, Mary
was often left alone for months at a time to raise their children and run the household. Mary supported her
husband socially and politically, not least when Lincoln was elected president in 1860.
During her White House years, Mary Lincoln faced many personal difficulties generated by political divisions
within the nation. Her family was from a border state where slavery was permitted.[11] Several of her halfbrothers served in the Confederate Army and were killed in action, and one brother served the Confederacy as
a surgeon.[12]
Mary staunchly supported her husband in his quest to save the Union and was strictly loyal to his policies.
Considered a "westerner" although she had grown up in the more refined Upper South city of Lexington, Mary
worked hard to serve as her husband's First Lady in Washington, D.C., a political center dominated by eastern
and southern culture. Lincoln was regarded as the first "western" president, and critics described Mary's
manners as coarse and pretentious.[13][14] She had difficulty negotiating White House social responsibilities and
rivalries,[15] spoils-seeking solicitors,[16] and baiting newspapers[14] in a climate of high national intrigue in Civil
War Washington. She refurbished the White House, which included extensive redecorating of all the public and
private rooms as well as the purchase ofnew china, which led to extensive overexpenditures. The president
was very angry over the cost, even though Congress eventually passed two additional appropriations to cover
these expenses.[17][18]
Mary suffered from severe headaches, described as migraines, throughout her adult life,[19] as well as
protracted depression.[20] Her headaches seemed to become more frequent after she suffered a head injury in a
carriage accident during her White House years.[21] A history of mood swings, fierce temper, public outbursts
throughout Lincoln's presidency, as well as excessive spending, has led some historians and psychologists to
speculate that Mary suffered from bipolar disorder.[22][23]

During her White House years, she often visited hospitals around Washington to give flowers and fruit to
wounded soldiers. She took the time to write letters for them to send to their loved ones.[1][24] From time to time,
she accompanied Lincoln on military visits to the field. Responsible for hosting many social functions, she has
often been blamed by historians for spending too much on the White House. She reportedly felt that it was
important to the maintenance of prestige of the presidency and the Union during the Civil War. [1]