May 22
Anniversary of Martha Washington's Death
 

		Martha ("Patsy") Dandridge, the eldest daughter of Virginia planter,  married Daniel Custis, a rich bachelor two decades her senior when she was eighteen. She had four children by Custis, two of whom survived to adulthood. Custis' death in 1757 left her a rich widow. Martha met George Washington six months after her husband had died. George was an ambitious army officer enmeshed in an impossible love affair with Sally Fairfax, the wife of his closest friend. While there were several reasons why George asked Martha to marry him, money was probably the most important factor since George had a passion for land speculation and little money to invest.For Martha it was love at first sight and a more passionate love than she had experienced with her first husband
Martha Washington				Patty Duke as Martha Washington

But Martha wasn't the type of woman to flame George's passion. She was the direct opposite of Sally Fairfax. Martha was small, open, non-intellectual, non-flirtatious, anxious to please, and rather dull - a perfect wife for a country gentleman, especially with an estate ironically named the White House. Martha followed Washington into the battlefield when he served as Commander in Chief of the American Army. She spent the infamous winter at Valley Forge with George, and was helpful in maintaining some level of morale among officers and enlisted troops. She opposed George's election as President of the newly formed United States of America, and refused to attend the inauguration,  but fulfilled her duties as the official state hostess during their two terms. Since the title of First Lady was not created until after Martha's death, she was general known as "Lady Washington" and was viewed by many as a a royal consort.

Martha Washington has been a character in a few films and TV productions, Some of the more memorable portrayals have been by Patty Duke in the TV miniseries George Washington (1984), Susan Browning in the TV special First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975), and Theresa Hune in the documentary Pursuit of Honor: The Rise of George Washington (2006).

Lady Washington was somewhat of a snob. Albert Gallatin's description of her was: "She is Mrs. President not of the United States, but of a faction." That faction was her close circle of friends and the Federalists. Martha often refused to allow Democrats in her house. When Martha entertained her friends, the servants did the cooking. However, Martha did cook for George and created an American classic, Martha Washington's Cream of Crab Soup.
 

 Martha Washington's Cream of Crab Soup