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Martha Washington: The First, First Lady, Ashley Lamoureux

Senior Honors Theses

Martha Washington is best known for her marriage to George Washington and subsequently becoming the first, First Lady of the United States. Most discussion and research only mentions Martha in passing and focuses instead on her husband. Martha’s precedent-setting role as First Lady is both valid and important. However, Martha’s influence on history is not limited to that role. This work highlights and examines the often-overlooked aspects of Martha Washington’s life through an examination of both primary source writing and biographies. Her experience as a landowner and business woman, her dedication to her husband and the Revolution, and the standards …