The First First Lady on Currency
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802) is a revered icon in American history. Our first First Lady was, of course, married to George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and the first President of the U.S. As First Lady, Martha established many of the traditions and precedents that have come to define the role to this day.
Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731, at Chestnut Grove, a tobacco plantation in New Kent County, Virginia. She was the oldest of eight children of John Dandridge (1700-1756), a Virginia planter, militia officer, and county clerk who immigrated from England, and Frances Jones (1710-1785). Though Martha was never formally educated, typical of that era for a woman in her class, she learned needlepoint, housekeeping, religion, music, reading, and writing. She was also an adept equestrian.
Just before her 20th birthday, Martha Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis on May 15, 1750.
After 7 years of marriage,
Martha’s first husband died leaving her and two surviving children a large 17,500-acre plantation. As English law allowed a widowed woman to own property, Martha was thrust into the role of managing the plantation. She proved competent in business, conferring with agents on the tobacco trade with England. As a young woman of wealth, she attracted attention from many men. Charles Carter, another Virginia planter, was a suitor. But in the end, she fell in love with a fellow plantation owner and Virginian, George Washington. They traveled in the same social circle and eventually married on Jan. 6, 1759, at her home in New Kent. Martha and her children moved to
her new husband’s home in Mount Vernon in April 1759. While George and Martha never had any children of their own, they raised her two children and several grandchildren. By all reports, they were very happy during their 40 years of marriage, sharing similar world views and prioritizing family over all else.
When George was named the commander of the Continental Army at the start of the Revolutionary
War, Martha and George’s cousin, Lund Washington, were left to manage Mount Vernon through the War. Martha aided the war effort by raising money to support the soldiers, visiting hospitals and encampments, and handling George’s correspondences. It was not until the war’s conclusion in 1781 that George was able to return to Mount Vernon.
In 1789, when George was elected the first President of the U.S., he and Martha moved to New York City (the first capital of the country) and then to Philadelphia (the second U.S. capital). Martha was a dutiful first lady, hosting Friday evening receptions for members of Congress and dignitar
ies. While she generally shunned political life, Martha embraced the role with humility and grace, becoming an idolized celebrity in the process. She actively supported American manufacturing as her husband led the young country. Historical accounts indicated she was an excellent first lady and a devoted wife.
In 1797, after completing his second term as President, George and Martha returned to their home in Mount Vernon.
From the Mount Vernon website is a detailed description of Martha’s responsibilities as the first First Lady:
As the inaugural first lady, many of Washington's practices in the White House became traditions for future first ladies, including the opening of the
White House to the public on
New Year's Day, a practice that would continue until the Hoover administration. She hosted many affairs of state at New York City and Philadelphia during their years as temporary capitals. Taking her responsibility as the lady of the house seriously, Washington returned the official calls of every lady that left her card at the heavily trafficked presidential home to ensure that everyone could reach the president, always doing so within three days… She was careful during these events to avoid political talk, encouraging a change of subject when it came up. The social circles that developed among those in American politics at this time became known as the Republican Court.
When his Presidency was completed, George and Martha left the capital and went about renovating their Mount Vernon home. The Washingtons’ retirement was far from quiet solitude; they frequently entertained friends and visiting dignitaries. George and Martha hired the former president's nephew, Lawrence Lewis, to serve as their secretary, and he would eventu
ally marry Washington's granddaughter Nelly.
George died of a severe throat infection on Dec. 14, 1799, at the age of 67. Martha became the legal owner of her husband's property but ceded control of Mount Vernon to her relatives. She also inherited her husband's slaves on the condition that they be freed upon her death. Martha died of a fever on May 22, 1802, and was buried next to her husband at Mount Vernon.
In this article, we will showcase currency honoring Martha Washington, including the only federally issued currency, silver certificates printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Many Obsolete notes were issued honoring Martha, most of them printed by Danforth, Wright and Co. of Philadelphia and NY, and Danforth, Bald and Co., and The American Bank Note Co.
The two Danforth companies were printers from 1823 to 1858. In 1858, Danforth, with three other printers, folded into one united company – the American Banknote Company. Most of the images are similar, as they were reused on various issues (which was a common practice). Martha always appears matronly, with a bonnet on her head and her neck swaddled in a scarf. Fitting garb for the country’s first First Lady. While there are many allegorical images of women representing American values on U.S. currency (i.e.: Liberty, Columbia, Agriculture, Industry, Peace, Art, Victory, et al), Martha Washington is the only actual woman to appear regularly on American currency. It is a testament to her grace and her legacy as the wife of the first U.S. President.