(1) Martha Dandridge Curtis Washington

 

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington

Birthdate

06/02/1731

Death date

05/22/1802

President

George Washington

Dates of service

04/30/1789-03/04/1797

Relationship to president

Spouse

Other marriages

Prior marriage to Daniel Park Custis

Websites 

First Ladies National Library Biography of Martha Washington

Mount Vernon Key Facts about Martha Washington

White House Historical Association: Martha Washington

Papers/letters collections

Martha Washington Papers Project

National Library for the Study of George Washington Papers of Martha Washington

Historical sites

Martha Washington Birthplace

Martha Washington Gravesite

Fascinating details

  • Martha brought considerable wealth to her marriage to George Washington because of the inheritance she earned from her prior marriage to Daniel Park Custis.
  • Set the precedent for subsequent first ladies by upholding a social hostess role, having navigated an intricate balance of moving on from English royal etiquette while carving out a new sense of purpose and formality as the American presidential spouse.
  • Learned to read and write unlike most other Virginian women of the 1700s.
  • Released George Washington’s slaves after he passed away when she believed they were plotting against her.
  • Was related by marriage to Robert E. Lee. 

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