Читать книгу First Ladies For Dummies - Marcus A. Stadelmann, Marcus A. Stadelmann PhD - Страница 45

While staying with friends in 1758, Martha met George Washington, who was a military officer trying to settle back into civilian life. Over dinner, Martha, who was referred to as the prettiest and wealthiest widow in Virginia, hit it off with George, and they were married on January 6, 1759.

The couple never had children, a fact George and Martha regretted. George, however, treated her two surviving children, John, referred to as Jack, and Martha called Patsy, from her previous marriage as his own. Both Jack and Patsy died before George became president. Patsy died of epilepsy and Jack died during the Revolutionary War. Martha and George raised their grandchildren as their own.

The next 15 years were happy ones for Martha. She and George enjoyed the quiet life on his estate Mount Vernon. For Martha, Mount Vernon became the training ground for the White House. She was expected by the Virginia social elites to host large parties and dinners. She didn’t enjoy hosting but soon became very good at it. To her surprise, her husband first took over command of the Virginia militia and then became commander of the American Continental Army in 1775, when the Revolutionary War broke out. She took his appointment in stride and is quoted as saying:

“Our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition and not our circumstances.”