George Washington led the army out of Valley Forge on May 19, and he and Martha parted ways once again. She would never be far from her husband, though, as she became the first First Lady of the United States and stayed with George until his death. Martha passed away in at the age of In The Section. Valley Forge. Revolutionary History in Montgomery County.
Establishing her public role as hostess in the series of presidential mansions two in New York and one in Philadelphia Martha Washington held formal dinners on Thursdays and public receptions on Fridays. No evidence suggests what or if she sought to influence any of the President's decisions; later remarks attributed to her imply her to be a strong partisan of his Federalist Party.
Newspapers of the Anti-Federalist Party criticized the formality of her receptions as evoking the royal court of the British monarchy, against the tyranny of which the American Revolution had been fought. She remained beloved by Revolutionary War veterans, and was publicly known to provide financial support or to intercede on behalf of those among them in need. Not only Americans, but Europeans responded to Martha Washington as something of an American heroine, sometimes sending her lavish gifts.
One British engraver even sought to capture her image and sell it to the mass public, creating a picture that looked nothing like her but was labeled " Lady Washington. There is evidence of great mutual care and affection between the first president and his wife. She was conscientious about ensuring in every way she could the dignity of him as a symbol and that his reputation was never compromised.
She also recognized the differentiation necessary between her own personal life and the way she was perceived by the public. After he underwent the surgical removal of a possibly cancerous growth on his left leg in Martha Washington made arrangements to mitigate the pain of his painful post-surgical recovery, ensuring that the public streets near their home were cordoned off and straw was laid nearby to muffle sounds. Nevertheless, her life after the presidency was not the idyllic private existence she had anticipated.
All expected to be entertained, some even expected to be put up as overnight guests. The former First Lady was not known to have accompanied the former President across the Potomac River to the new federal city being built, even after it began functioning as the official U. The extent of her travel from Mount Vernon was only to the local city of Alexandria,Virginia. Upon his death on December 14, , the slaves owned by the Washingtons were promised their freedom upon Martha Washington's death.
Making clear the tremendous personal sacrifice that the federal government asked of her in requesting that she permit the remains of the first president to be eventually interned at the U. Capitol Building, she wrote to President John Adams that she would acquiesce with her sense of public duty. One account does quote her as making a disparaging remark about Anti-Federalists, particularly aimed at Thomas Jefferson, whom many Federalists considered to have betrayed the friendship of George Washington.
Although she curtailed her life to Mount Vernon, once the new capital city was established in what was first called, "The Federal City," and then named for her late husband, Martha Washington welcomed political figures who came to pay their respects to her and visit what was then thought to be the temporary burial place of the late president. She expressed her loneliness for her late husband frequently and her desire to soon join him in death.
Martha was charming, attractive, and wealthy. George had his own appeal, standing over six feet two inches tall, he was an imposing figure with a formidable reputation as a military leader. At the end of , Washington resigned his military commission. After Washington left Mount Vernon in , he would not return again for over six years. Every year, during the long winter months when the fighting was at a standstill, the General asked Martha to join him at his winter encampment.
Every year she made the arduous journey to his camp, whether it was at Cambridge, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, Morristown, Newburgh, or elsewhere. She stayed with him for months at a time. In fact, during the period from April until December Martha was able to be with her husband for almost half the time he was away. Before she could make the first trip, however, Martha had to undergo her own ordeal. She had to be inoculated for smallpox, one of the most deadly enemies soldiers faced during wartime.
Learn More: Revolutionary War. Just as her husband realized that his actions would set a precedent for future presidents, so Martha, too, was aware that her behavior as first lady would become the template for the wives of future chief executives. One of her most important steps was to initiate a weekly reception, held on Friday evenings, for anyone who would like to attend. At these gatherings, members of Congress, visiting dignitaries, and men and women from the local community were received at the presidential mansion.
After being presented to Mrs. Washington, they enjoyed refreshments, talked with each other, and mingled. There was a fear that these slaves could revolt and kill Martha in order to gain their freedom.
Rumors circulated about a suspicious fire at Mount Vernon that may have been set by slaves. Learn More: Slavery at Mount Vernon. Just two and a half years after her husband and to the dismay of her extended family, Martha Washington died on May 22,
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