Mary's Reputation

[Mike B.]

(12-24-2012 07:39 AM)ReignetteC Wrote:  

(11-08-2012 12:29 PM)HerbS Wrote:  Tom,I agree with you 100%.After reading"Mary Todd Lincoln"by Jean Baker,my eyes were opened to "Give Mary A Break"!

Hi, Herb,

I'm in the "Give Mary a Break" camp, too!

Well-read and educated, Mary Lincoln was simply "born before her time."

ML endured tragedy that far exceeded Victorian expectations: She lost her mother at seven; half-brothers were killed in the Civil War; three of her four sons died in their youth; her husband was shot while she was holding his hand. And her son Robert was a greedy snob who cared not for his mother during her widow years, but for her money.

Mary Lincoln deserves a break!

Does defending Mary warrent accusing her son of being "a greedy snob who cared not for his mother during her widow years, but for her money?"

Robert was a wealthy man from his young adulthood because of his partnerships with his father's friends like David Davis who were also financial geniuses. He eventually became head of the Pullman Car Company and was quite wealthy when he died. Whether he was a snob, is a matter of opinion. He certainly was very reserved.

The time he was conservator for his mother he increased her wealth by $8,000 dollars, but refused the fee he was entitled to for acting as conservator.

He even suggested that she write him out of her will, so that she would not feel threatened that he was trying to steal her money which she was convinced. Ninian Edwards, Mary's brother-in-law even wrote to Robert, in 1874 at the height of the controversy, "I am sorry to say that your mother has for the last month been very much embittered against you, and has on several occasions said that she has hired two men to take your life."

I seriously doubt Mary did this, but I think it shows at this point she was clearly in need of help and her views on Robert and money were not really rational at this point.