Mary Todd Lincoln

Hello! My name is Mary, and I’d like to tell you my story. I was born on December 13th, 1818, in a big, lovely house in Lexington, Kentucky. My family was well-known, and our home was always bustling with people and excitement. I loved to learn more than anything. I read every book I could get my hands on, and my father sent me to a special school where I even learned to speak French! In those days, it was unusual for a girl to get such a good education, but I was curious about everything and wanted to understand the world.

When I was a young woman, in 1839, I moved to Springfield, Illinois, to live with my sister. It was a lively town, and I enjoyed going to parties and meeting new people. One day, I met a tall lawyer named Abraham Lincoln. He wasn't like the other men I knew; he was very smart, a little bit shy, but he told the funniest stories. We fell in love and were married on November 4th, 1842. We started a family and had four wonderful sons: Robert, Eddie, Willie, and Tad. Being their mother was my greatest joy.

In 1861, my life changed forever when my husband was elected the 16th President of the United States. We moved into the White House in Washington, D.C. It was a very difficult time for our country, as the American Civil War had just begun, dividing the nation. The White House itself was worn down, so I worked hard to restore it and make it a beautiful home that all Americans could feel proud of. I also spent time visiting soldiers in hospitals, bringing them food and comfort. It was a time of great public duty but also deep private sadness, as our dear son Willie became very sick and passed away in the White House in 1862.

When the long war finally ended in 1865, we were all so hopeful for peace and for the country to heal. Just a few days later, on the evening of April 14th, my husband and I went to see a play to celebrate. That night, a terrible thing happened, and my dear husband was hurt. He passed away the next morning. My heart was broken, and the whole country mourned with me. The man who had worked so hard to keep our country together was gone.

My later years were quiet ones, filled with the memories of my husband and our boys. I lived to be 63 years old. Today, I hope people remember me as an intelligent woman and a devoted First Lady who stood by her husband during one of the nation's most challenging periods. I faced many heartbreaks in my life, but I loved my family and my country with all my heart.