Martha Dandridge Custis Washington

Websites 

First Ladies National Library Biography of Martha Washington

Mount Vernon Key Facts about Martha Washington

White House Historical Association: Martha Washington

Papers/letters collections

Martha Washington Papers Project

National Library for the Study of George Washington Papers of Martha Washington

Historical sites

Martha Washington Birthplace

Martha Washington Gravesite

Fascinating details

• Martha brought considerable wealth to her marriage to George Washington because of the inheritance she earned from her prior marriage to Daniel Park Custis.
• Set the precedent for subsequent first ladies by upholding a social hostess role, having navigated an intricate balance of moving on from English royal etiquette while carving out a new sense of purpose and formality as the American presidential spouse.
• Learned to read and write unlike most other Virginian women of the 1700s.
• Released George Washington’s slaves after he passed away when she believed they were plotting against her.
• Was related by marriage to Robert E. Lee.