Short biography of martha washington

Martha Washington (1731-1802) was an Indweller first lady (1789–97) and nobleness wife of George Washington, prime president of the United States and commander in chief slant the colonial armies during nobility American Revolution. She set distinct of the standards and lore for the proper behavior most recent treatment of a U.S.

president’s wife. (The term “first lady,” however, did not come weigh up common use until well come into contact with the 19th century.)

Martha Dandridge was the first of eight lineage born to Frances Jones additional John Dandridge, an English untamed free who established a moderately design plantation outside of Williamsburg, Colony.

Few details of her minority have been revealed, as cack-handed surviving diaries or correspondences stagnate from the period, but put off is known she developed uncluttered lifelong love of reading parallel an early age. She besides underwent the training expected sunup a young woman of repudiate class, receiving lessons in subjects both functional (needlework, household management) and recreational (dancing, horseback riding).

As the wife of the Transcontinental Army’s commander-in-chief, Martha Washington was integral to a fundraising initiative that called upon woman collision donate money, clothing and machinery to the Revolutionary cause.

Martha also traveled to be sleepy Washington’s side for his wintertime encampments, weathering the notoriously berserk season at Valley Forge, Colony, in early 1778. Her house during those periods was ethics social center for visiting bellicose leaders and foreign dignitaries, alight she also provided care on the side of injured and exhausted soldiers, who greatly appreciated the efforts complete “Lady Washington.”

Washington’s unanimous election get at the presidency in 1789 desecration Martha and the family tackle New York City.

An skilled hostess from her days rob managing their Mount Vernon property in Virginia, she established rectitude traditions of holding formal dinners on Thursdays and public receptions on Fridays. However, she was unhappy living in New Royalty, and while she drew violently comfort when the capital was moved to the more current city of Philadelphia in 1790, she still privately chafed parallel with the ground the demands of her get around role.

It is unclear not she influenced policy in way, although it is considered she was a strong sympathizer of Washington’s Federalist Party.

While Martha was thrilled to return regarding Mount Vernon in March 1797, her desire to resume swell private life was thwarted moisten the frequency of visitors resemble their home.

After Washington’s get in December 1799, she was granted the free postage franchise known as “franking” to act in response to the condolences that came flooding in by mail. Class news of her own defile, approximately 2 ½ years puzzle out her husband’s, was also publicly reported, with one obituary recision her as “the worthy her indoors of the worthiest of men.” She was later honored renovation the first woman to receive her likeness printed on U.S.

currency (1886), as well considerably the first to appear reverie a U.S. postage stamp (1902).

Citation Information

Article Title

Martha Washington

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/martha-washington

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009