WOMEN IN HISTORY - Martha Washington
Founding mother of America
DATE OF BIRTH
1731
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PLACE OF BIRTHVirginia
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DATE OF DEATH
1802
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PLACE OF DEATH
Virginia
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BIO
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the founding mother of America. She is often thought of as a frumpy, white-haired, bonneted retiring matron. Quite the contrary, she was a wealthy and attractive young widow who could take her pick from Virginia aristocracy. As the steadfast partner to her second husband, she supported him in all his duties and decisions, oversaw the operations of an enormous plantation with 5 farms, all the financial accounts, and managed the household mansion of Mt Vernon when he was away.
While her family didn’t have enough money for her dowry for her first marriage to Daniel Parke Custis, his father deemed she was not good enough for his son, until she confronted him. Impressed by her strength of character at 18, the petite Martha reasoned with him, and he decided that the Parke/Custis fortune made a large dowry unnecessary.
This example of Martha ‘Patsy’s’ fortitude was just the beginning of her nearly 40-year career as the wife of the General of the Revolutionary War and first President of the United States. She is renowned for traveling to be with her husband during his war campaigns, beloved by the soldiers whom he led, and respected by the polite society of the time. “Martha Washington was a shrewd businesswoman, a patriot, and a president’s lifelong partner.”
While her family didn’t have enough money for her dowry for her first marriage to Daniel Parke Custis, his father deemed she was not good enough for his son, until she confronted him. Impressed by her strength of character at 18, the petite Martha reasoned with him, and he decided that the Parke/Custis fortune made a large dowry unnecessary.
This example of Martha ‘Patsy’s’ fortitude was just the beginning of her nearly 40-year career as the wife of the General of the Revolutionary War and first President of the United States. She is renowned for traveling to be with her husband during his war campaigns, beloved by the soldiers whom he led, and respected by the polite society of the time. “Martha Washington was a shrewd businesswoman, a patriot, and a president’s lifelong partner.”