Martha Washington

Martha Washington (1731-1802) was an American first lady (1789–97) and the wife of George Washington, first president of the United States and commander in chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution. She set many of the standards and customs  for the proper behavior and treatment of a U.S. president's wife. (The term "first lady," however, did not come into common use until well into the 19th century.)

This Day in History

May 25

Presidential

JFK asks Congress to support the space program, 1961

On this day in 1961, President John F. Kennedy announces to Congress his goal of sending an American to the moon by the end of the decade and asks for…

Did You Know?

Martha Washington had four children with her first husband Daniel Custis, but none with her second husband, George Washington.

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Classroom Study Guides

  • Save Our History: The President Slept Here (PDF)

    Teacher's guide to the restoration of some of the most historically significant homes in America - the dwellings where presidents once lived and made some of the most important decisions in American History.