A 2013 - 2014 original C-SPAN feature series telling the stories of America's First Ladies - from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama -
through conversations with top experts, video tours of historic sites, and questions from C-SPAN's audience.

America's First Ladies — from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama
Martha Jefferson
First Lady: 1801 - 1809
Click the list to watch videos
  • Martha Jefferson Randolph's White House role and public image
  • Book discussion: The Women Jefferson Loved
  • Brief introduction to Jefferson family
  • President Jefferson's relationship with daughter Martha and her husband
  • Martha Jefferson Randolph Hostess in the White House
  • Entertaining during the Jefferson Administration
  • Martha Jefferson Background
  • The Women in Thomas Jefferson's Life

Biography

Martha Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson
Quote about Martha Jefferson Randolph: “Her memory is so fragrant with the perfume of purity and saintly sweetness, that it is a privilege to dwell and muse upon a theme so elevating.”

Born - October 19, 1748 in Charles City County, Virginia

Parents - John Wayles & Martha Eppes Wayles

Married - January 1, 1772 to Thomas Jefferson (first married to Bathurst Skelton in 1766, widowed 1768)

Children - John Skelton (son from first marriage, 1767 – 1771),
Martha “Patsy”(1772 – 1836),
Jane Randolph (1774 – 1775),
unnamed son (1777),
Maria “Polly” (1778 – 1804),
Lucy Elizabeth (1780 – 1781),
Lucy Elizabeth (1782 – 1785)

Died - Sept 6, 1782 in Monticello, Virginia

Click here to see full bio of Martha Jefferson

Martha died 18 years before Thomas Jefferson took office. Their daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph served as hostess during her father’s administration.

Martha Jefferson Randolph (daughter)

Born - September 27, 1772 in Monticello, Virginia

Married - Thomas Randolph in 1790

Served as hostess from 1802-03 & 1805-06 Mrs. Randolph gave birth to the first child in the White House

Died - October 10, 1836

 
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