What was the first name of Abraham Lincoln's wife?

Born Mary Ann Todd, the future wife of the 16th U.S. President came from a wealthy and politically prominent family in Lexington, Kentucky. In contrast to her husband's humble beginnings, she enjoyed a refined upbringing and an excellent education for a woman of her time, which included learning to speak French fluently. Before marrying Abraham Lincoln, she was even courted by his famous political rival, Stephen A. Douglas. Her keen intellect and interest in politics were evident early on and she proved to be a staunch supporter of her husband's political ambitions throughout his career.

As First Lady, she faced numerous challenges. Coming from a border state, her family was divided by the Civil War, with several of her half-brothers fighting for the Confederacy. This led to suspicions about her loyalty in the White House. She undertook an extensive and costly redecoration of the White House, which drew public criticism for its extravagance during wartime. Her time in Washington was also marked by immense personal tragedy, including the death of her son Willie in 1862 and the assassination of her husband in 1865, which occurred as she sat beside him at Ford's Theatre.

The years following the assassination were filled with sorrow and difficulty for Mary. She mourned the loss of her husband and three of their four sons, with only her eldest, Robert, outliving her. The deaths and the trauma of the assassination took a heavy toll on her mental health, leading to a period of public controversy and a brief institutionalization instigated by her son. Despite these hardships, she traveled extensively in Europe before returning to the United States. She passed away in 1882 at her sister's home in Springfield, Illinois, the same house where she had married Abraham Lincoln four decades earlier.