On September 21, 1788, First Lady Margaret Taylor born in Calvert County, Maryland

On September 21, 1788, First Lady Margaret Taylor was born in Calvert County, Maryland. Though steeled by life as both a frontier and military wife, Margaret was an inactive first lady due to poor health and personal preference. Instead, her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Bliss fulfilled the social duties of the role.

Did you know? Margaret shunned any notoriety for herself and reportedly refused to sit for portraits. Perhaps her past experiences had proved more than enough excitement – during her husband’s military career, the family moved from fort to fort, enduring both illness and the deaths of two daughters. Of his wife, Zachary Taylor remarked, “My wife was as much of a soldier as I was.”

Portrait of Margaret Taylor, 19th century

-Written by Anna Zemaitaitis, Media and Digital Content Associate