Edith Wilson was born on October 15, 1872, in Wytheville, Virginia. She was the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson and served as First Lady of the United States from 1915 to 1921. After her husband suffered a severe stroke in 1919, she took an active role in managing his affairs and deciding which matters of state he could handle, effectively overseeing parts of the executive branch. She remained a prominent figure in Washington society until her death on December 28, 1961.