The Commitment The Commitment of Mary Todd of Mary Todd

LincolnLincolnDavid A. Casey, M.D.David A. Casey, M.D.

Innominate SocietyInnominate Society

October 11, 2011October 11, 2011

IntroductionIntroduction Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham

Lincoln, lived through a series of Lincoln, lived through a series of tragedies. She suffered from psychiatric tragedies. She suffered from psychiatric symptoms and was civilly committed in symptoms and was civilly committed in 18751875

Her case raises may interesting Her case raises may interesting questions including the problems questions including the problems inherent in retrospective psychiatric inherent in retrospective psychiatric diagnosis of historical figures and diagnosis of historical figures and longstanding controversies on the role of longstanding controversies on the role of involuntary hospitalization in psychiatryinvoluntary hospitalization in psychiatry

The Commitment PapersThe Commitment Papers

In 2010 the Louisville’s Frazier History In 2010 the Louisville’s Frazier History Museum obtained the original Museum obtained the original commitment documents and will display commitment documents and will display them for the first time as part of a new them for the first time as part of a new Civil War exhibit beginning on Civil War exhibit beginning on Saturday, October 15.Saturday, October 15.

Tonight’s discussion will include the Tonight’s discussion will include the case of Mary Todd Lincoln and a case of Mary Todd Lincoln and a presentation about the documents presentation about the documents themselvesthemselves

Early LifeEarly Life Born Mary Ann Todd on December 13, Born Mary Ann Todd on December 13,

1818 in Lexington, Kentucky to a 1818 in Lexington, Kentucky to a prominent, well-to-do, slave-holding familyprominent, well-to-do, slave-holding family

Mother Elizabeth died when Mary was 6Mother Elizabeth died when Mary was 6 Father Robert remarried Elizabeth Father Robert remarried Elizabeth

Humphreys in 1826 when Mary was 7 Humphreys in 1826 when Mary was 7 Poor relationship with step-motherPoor relationship with step-mother 14 siblings from father’s 2 marriages14 siblings from father’s 2 marriages Attended finishing school learning fluent Attended finishing school learning fluent

FrenchFrench

Mary Todd Lincoln House, Lexington

YouthYouth Moved to live with sister Elizabeth Moved to live with sister Elizabeth

Edwards in Springfield, Illinois in 1839, Edwards in Springfield, Illinois in 1839, age 20age 20

Courted by Stephen A. Douglas, many Courted by Stephen A. Douglas, many othersothers

Married Abraham Lincoln, age 33, in Married Abraham Lincoln, age 33, in 1842 when she was 231842 when she was 23

Her aristocratic family opposed the Her aristocratic family opposed the marriage as beneath her social standing; marriage as beneath her social standing; she and Lincoln broke off engagement she and Lincoln broke off engagement but saw each other secretlybut saw each other secretly

Mary Todd Lincoln

Springfield YearsSpringfield Years

Lincoln family lived mostly in Lincoln family lived mostly in Springfield through inauguration of Springfield through inauguration of 18611861

Lincoln Home National Historic Site Lincoln Home National Historic Site 1844-18611844-1861

Lincoln ChildrenLincoln Children

All 4 children born in SpringfieldAll 4 children born in Springfield Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926); only Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926); only

child to survive into adulthood and outlive child to survive into adulthood and outlive Mary; became prominent lawyer and Mary; became prominent lawyer and diplomatdiplomat

Edward “Eddie” Baker Lincoln (1846-Edward “Eddie” Baker Lincoln (1846-1850)1850)

William “Willie” Wallace Lincoln (1850-William “Willie” Wallace Lincoln (1850-1862; died while Lincoln was president)1862; died while Lincoln was president)

Thomas “Tad” Lincoln (1853-1871)Thomas “Tad” Lincoln (1853-1871)

Lincoln Family

Political WifePolitical Wife

Avid political supporter of LincolnAvid political supporter of Lincoln Often alone for long periods with the Often alone for long periods with the

childrenchildren Deeply affected by death of Eddie of Deeply affected by death of Eddie of

diphtheria or TB in 1850, short of his 4diphtheria or TB in 1850, short of his 4thth birthdaybirthday

Developed reputation for being an Developed reputation for being an unusually outspoken, unconventional unusually outspoken, unconventional woman-and often criticized for these woman-and often criticized for these traitstraits

Edward “Eddie” Lincoln

White House YearsWhite House Years

Deeply conflicted by Civil WarDeeply conflicted by Civil War Brother was CSA surgeon; several half-Brother was CSA surgeon; several half-

brothers and a brother-in-law were CSA brothers and a brother-in-law were CSA casualtiescasualties

Publically was ardent supporter of husband’s Publically was ardent supporter of husband’s attempts to preserve Unionattempts to preserve Union

Unpopular and insecure first lady; loyalty Unpopular and insecure first lady; loyalty questioned by political opponentsquestioned by political opponents

Never accepted into Washington society as a Never accepted into Washington society as a “westerner”; criticized as coarse, pretentious“westerner”; criticized as coarse, pretentious

White House YearsWhite House Years

Suffered severe bouts of depression, especially Suffered severe bouts of depression, especially after death of Willie, age 11, in 1862, of after death of Willie, age 11, in 1862, of typhoidtyphoid

Suffered head injury in carriage accident, 1863Suffered head injury in carriage accident, 1863 Mood swings, irritability, public outburstsMood swings, irritability, public outbursts Referred to by staff as the “hellcat”Referred to by staff as the “hellcat” Criticized for over-spending, especially on Criticized for over-spending, especially on

White House renovations, clothing—in attempt White House renovations, clothing—in attempt to satisfy critics who described her as “plump to satisfy critics who described her as “plump and plain”and plain”

William “Willie” Lincoln

White House YearsWhite House Years

Behavior increasingly erratic following Behavior increasingly erratic following Willie’s death; Lincoln warned Mary she Willie’s death; Lincoln warned Mary she may be sent to an asylummay be sent to an asylum

Took to bed; severe headaches; viewed by Took to bed; severe headaches; viewed by public as a hypochondriacpublic as a hypochondriac

Became involved in spiritualism in attempt Became involved in spiritualism in attempt to contact her dead son; bilked out of “a to contact her dead son; bilked out of “a small fortune” by mediumssmall fortune” by mediums

Her illnesses and behavior were widely Her illnesses and behavior were widely reported and discussedreported and discussed

Assassination and Assassination and AftermathAftermath

Seated next to husband, holding his hand Seated next to husband, holding his hand when he was shot at Ford’s Theater, April when he was shot at Ford’s Theater, April 14, 186514, 1865

Along with son Robert, stayed by President’s Along with son Robert, stayed by President’s side through night until he died the next dayside through night until he died the next day

Remained in White House for 5 weeks in Remained in White House for 5 weeks in state of deep griefstate of deep grief

Returned to Illinois where she lobbied Returned to Illinois where she lobbied Congress for a pension and friends for Congress for a pension and friends for moneymoney

Prelude to CommitmentPrelude to Commitment

18 year old son Tad died in July, 1871 18 year old son Tad died in July, 1871 ““Dropsy” or congestive heart failureDropsy” or congestive heart failure Grief exceed even that of previous deathsGrief exceed even that of previous deaths Troubled by rumors of Lincoln’s romantic Troubled by rumors of Lincoln’s romantic

fixation on his first love, Ann Rutledgefixation on his first love, Ann Rutledge In March, 1875 during trip to Jacksonville, In March, 1875 during trip to Jacksonville,

Florida suddenly became convinced that Florida suddenly became convinced that only surviving son Robert was deathly ill only surviving son Robert was deathly ill and took a train to Chicago, surprised to and took a train to Chicago, surprised to find him well find him well

Thomas “Tad” Lincoln

Erratic BehaviorErratic Behavior

Told Robert she had been poisoned on Told Robert she had been poisoned on train and her purse stolen by a train and her purse stolen by a “wandering Jew”, though no evidence of “wandering Jew”, though no evidence of thisthis

Jumped out of a window to escape a non-Jumped out of a window to escape a non-existent fireexistent fire

Spent thousands on jewelry, dresses, Spent thousands on jewelry, dresses, draperies which were never useddraperies which were never used

Walked around Chicago with $56,000 in Walked around Chicago with $56,000 in bonds sewn into clothingbonds sewn into clothing

CommitmentCommitment

Robert Lincoln consulted a number of Robert Lincoln consulted a number of physicians who recommended commitmentphysicians who recommended commitment

Forcibly taken to court without having been Forcibly taken to court without having been advised of proceedingsadvised of proceedings

Numerous witnesses against her; her attorney Numerous witnesses against her; her attorney offered no defenseoffered no defense

Spending sprees, psychotic symptoms Spending sprees, psychotic symptoms describeddescribed

May have attempted laudanum OD on learning May have attempted laudanum OD on learning verdict of insanity and commitment orderverdict of insanity and commitment order

Financial Financial ConservatorshipConservatorship

Robert Lincoln also named Robert Lincoln also named conservator over Mary’s financesconservator over Mary’s finances

He returned thousands of dollars in He returned thousands of dollars in jewelry and clothing, much not yet jewelry and clothing, much not yet paid for paid for

Robert Lincoln

Commitment VerdictCommitment Verdict

““We the undersigned jurors in the case of We the undersigned jurors in the case of Mary Todd Lincoln, having heard the Mary Todd Lincoln, having heard the evidence in the case, are satisfied that said evidence in the case, are satisfied that said Mary Todd Lincoln is insane, and is a fit Mary Todd Lincoln is insane, and is a fit person to be sent to a state hospital for the person to be sent to a state hospital for the insane…” May 19, 1875insane…” May 19, 1875

Committed to the Illinois State Hospital for Committed to the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane, but was allowed instead to be the Insane, but was allowed instead to be admitted to Bellevue Place, a private asylum admitted to Bellevue Place, a private asylum in Batavia, Illinoisin Batavia, Illinois

Indefinite order of confinementIndefinite order of confinement

Hospitalization at Hospitalization at Bellevue PlaceBellevue Place

Did not show signs of mental illness Did not show signs of mental illness during 4 month stayduring 4 month stay

Given free rein of the grounds and Given free rein of the grounds and allowed to leave premises to shop allowed to leave premises to shop and socializeand socialize

Robert assured his mother was Robert assured his mother was contentcontent

DischargeDischarge

Privately was lobbying for releasePrivately was lobbying for release Mary obtained the assistance of attorneys Mary obtained the assistance of attorneys

Myra and James Bradwell who mounted a Myra and James Bradwell who mounted a press campaign to have her releasedpress campaign to have her released

Superintendent Dr. Richard Patterson was Superintendent Dr. Richard Patterson was embarrassed by press coverage and embarrassed by press coverage and declared her well enough to be dischargeddeclared her well enough to be discharged

She left on September 10, 1875, moving She left on September 10, 1875, moving back to her sister Elizabeth Edwards’ back to her sister Elizabeth Edwards’ Springfield homeSpringfield home

AftermathAftermath A second trial was held in Chicago. On June 15, A second trial was held in Chicago. On June 15,

1876 the jury declared her “restored to reason 1876 the jury declared her “restored to reason and capable to manage and control her own and capable to manage and control her own estate”. Robert was removed as conservatorestate”. Robert was removed as conservator

Mary and Robert Lincoln never fully reconciledMary and Robert Lincoln never fully reconciled She remained a recluse at Elizabeth’s home, She remained a recluse at Elizabeth’s home,

rarely leaving her roomrarely leaving her room In 1879 she suffered spinal cord injuries in a fall In 1879 she suffered spinal cord injuries in a fall

and never recovered. She died of an apparent and never recovered. She died of an apparent stroke on July 16, 1882, age 63stroke on July 16, 1882, age 63

Discussion

What was Mary Todd Lincoln’s illness? Was her commitment justified? Described at the time as “insane” Has been posthumously diagnosed with

schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, syphilis

Most recent authors support bipolar disorder

Discussion

Mary Todd Lincoln’s case has also been viewed through the prisms of feminism and anti-psychiatry

Can we really apply modern diagnostic constructs to historical figures?

My view is that any such attempt is doomed to failure—the case becomes a Rorshach test where we project our own concerns