Martha Washington (1731 - 1802) was a woman of grace, resilience, and quiet influence who became the first First Lady of the United States. Born Martha Dandridge in Virginia on June 2, 1731, she grew up in a world of privilege and responsibility, learning early how to manage a household and uphold the expectations of colonial society.

At 18 she married wealthy planter Daniel Parke Custis and had four children, though only two survived childhood. Widowed at age 26, she inherited a vast estate, becoming one of the wealthiest women in the colonies. In 1759, she married George Washington, forming a partnership rooted in trust, shared values, and mutual respect. Although they had no children together, she raised her surviving children from her first marriage and later helped care for grandchildren and relatives.

Martha was not just a wife—she was a steady, grounding presence through George Washington's military and political life. During the Revolutionary War, she traveled to winter camps, enduring harsh conditions to provide comfort and care for her husband and his troops. Soldiers admired her kindness and strength, seeing her as a symbol of hope and endurance.

When George Washington became the first U.S. president, Martha reluctantly took on a public role. As First Lady, she hosted formal events in New York and Philadelphia, shaping the tone of the new nation’s political and social life. Though she disliked public attention, she understood the importance of her position and carried it out with elegance and responsibility.

Martha Washington died in 1802 at Mount Vernon. She is remembered not only as a supportive wife to the nation's first president but as a strong, capable woman who helped shape the image of leadership, domestic life, and public service in early America.