#17: Martha Jefferson Randolph

When President Thomas Jefferson’s wife passed away prior to his White House tenure, his daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph, gracefully stepped into the role of First Lady. Martha’s noteworthy advocacy saw her passionately urging her father to champion the abolition of slavery in America, a cause she embraced through her private education and travels, envisioning a nation without the stain of slavery.

Her extensive time in Paris allowed her to engage with world leaders, further enhancing her diplomatic prowess. Martha’s life exuded opulence, marked by extravagant balls and refined sophistication. During her White House years, Dolley Madison also played a pivotal role in hosting duties. Martha’s enduring impact ranked her 18th in the Siena Research Institute’s 1982 survey.