Mary Todd Lincoln – 1818 – 1882

Wife of Abraham Lincoln and First Lady of the United State

Age of Diagnosis: Unknown

Individual History: Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of America’s 16th President Abraham Lincoln and was the first lady of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln was highly motivated to pursue his increasingly successful career, and Mary Todd Lincoln had the same fierce ambition for success. She was a member of a large, wealthy Kentucky family, and was well educated. Before she married Abraham Lincoln, Mary was courted by his long-time political opponent Stephen A. Douglas. She and Lincoln had four sons together, only one of whom outlived her. In February 1862 her son Willie died at the age of 11 years old. After his death Mary spent a considerable amount of money to pay for mediums and spiritualists to try and contact her dead son, spending a lot of money the family did not have. Mary Lincoln suffered from migraine headaches and other severe illnesses through much of her adult life. She supported her husband throughout his presidency. She witnessed his fatal shooting when they were together in the President’s Box at Ford’s Theatre on Tenth Street in Washington. The First Lady had a history of migraines, mental illness, mood swings, fierce temper, public outbursts throughout Lincoln’s presidency, as well as excessive spending. Many historians and psychologists speculate that Mary suffered from bipolar disorder and/or Schizophrenia.