Mary Eunice Harlan

Mary Harlan Lincoln was born on September 25, 1846, in Iowa City, Iowa. She was the daughter of James Harlan, a United States Senator, and Ann Eliza Peck. She was the eldest child of her parents and the only one of James Harlan's children to reach adulthood. Her upbringing took place in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Washington, D.C., where she received education in her hometown as well as at Madame Smith's Finishing School in Washington. Her education included studies in French, dancing, deportment, and music, and she became skilled at playing the harp.

In 1864, Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln, became acquainted with Mary Harlan. Their courtship was supported by Robert's mother, Mary Lincoln, who approved of the relationship and sought to facilitate it. President Abraham Lincoln also played a role by requesting Senator Harlan to escort Mrs. Lincoln to the 1865 presidential inaugural, which allowed Robert to escort Mary. The couple kept their relationship relatively private; Robert often met Mary at the home of Edgar Welles, a friend and son of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. Their courtship was delayed by the assassination of Robert's father and the mourning that followed.

Mary Harlan and Robert Todd Lincoln married on September 24, 1868. Together, they had three children: a daughter named Mary "Mamie" Lincoln, born October 15, 1869; a son, Abraham Lincoln II (nicknamed "Jack"), born August 14, 1873; and another daughter, Jessie Harlan Lincoln, born November 6, 1875. The family typically spent the summer months in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, to escape the heat of the city, residing in the Harlan family home, built in 1876, which is now a museum donated to Iowa Wesleyan College in 1907 and contains artifacts related to the Lincoln family and President Lincoln's presidency.

In the early 1870s, Mary Todd Lincoln, the widow of President Lincoln, lived with Robert and Mary Harlan Lincoln; however, relationships between Mary Todd Lincoln and her daughter-in-law were reportedly strained, leading to Mary Todd Lincoln's departure and her subsequent commitment to Bellevue Place, a private sanitarium, in May 1875.

Some sources have suggested that Mary Harlan Lincoln may have struggled with alcohol, which may have impacted her relationships with her mother-in-law, husband, and children. However, these claims are circumstantial, and no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding her health or personal struggles.

Professionally, Robert Todd Lincoln pursued a career in law, business, and politics. He served as Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885 under Presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. Later, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1889 to 1893 under President Benjamin Harrison. The Lincolns lived in various locations, including London during Robert’s diplomatic service, and later in homes in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Hildene in Manchester, Vermont. Robert Lincoln accumulated wealth through his legal practice, which included serving as General Counsel and later President of the Pullman Palace Car Company.

Mary Harlan Lincoln maintained a private life, actively avoiding public exposure and photographic attention. After her husband's death in July 1926, she managed the family estate, oversaw charitable donations, and supervised family trusts. She died on March 31, 1937, in Washington, D.C. She was buried alongside her husband and son Jack at Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 31.