#28: Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln’s legacy goes beyond being the wife of America’s most renowned president; she remains one of history’s most polarizing First Ladies. Assuming the role just before the Civil War, her Southern roots and Confederate ancestry posed a challenge during turbulent times.

Initially lauded for her social finesse, criticism mounted over her ambitious White House renovations during wartime. Grief marked her life, losing a son to typhoid in 1850, and her eccentricity became evident after Willie’s 1862 death. In 1870, Congress granted her a $3,000 annual pension as the widow of the first assassinated president, equivalent to around $65,000 today. Notorious for her fiery temper and extravagant spending, she faced mental health struggles, spending three months in an institution.