Behind Every Great Man. . . Trivia Quiz

Answer: Martha Washington

Martha Dandridge was born in 1731. She married Daniel Custis at the age of 18. When Daniel died in 1757, she had two surviving children. George Washington became her second husband two years later. She quickly disliked being the first First Lady of the United States saying she 'would rather be at home'. Martha Dandridge Custis Washington died in 1802 of a severe fever.

Answer: Abigail Adams

Abigail Smith was born in 1744. She married John Adams in 1764. She was the first First Lady of the United States to be a wife to one President and a mother of another. Abigail Smith Adams died in 1818.

Answer: Anna Harrison

Anna Tuthill was born in 1775. She married Lt. William Henry Harrison when she was 24. Because of an illness, Anna was not able to accompany her husband to his inauguration and before she could move to Washington to be with him, her husband died. After her husband's death, she received a $25,000 dollar pension. Anna Tuthill Harrison remained in her North Bend home until her death in 1864.

Answer: Mary Lincoln

Mary Todd lived in the social life of Lexington, Kentucky. She was born in 1818. Mary married lawyer Abraham Lincoln when she was only 21. She was sitting in the President's box of Ford's Theatre with her husband when he was assassinated. Mary Todd Lincoln died in Springfield, Illinois in 1882.

Answer: Frances Cleveland

When Frances Folsom was born, Grover Cleveland bought her the first baby carriage. She and Grover married even though there was a 27 year difference between them. On Saturdays, Frances would hold receptions in the White House for women who had to work during the week.

After her husband's death, she remarried a professor of archeology, Thomas Preston, Jr. Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston died in 1947.

Answer: Dolley Madison

Dolley Payne was born in 1768. She married John Todd, Jr. when she was 22. When he died, Dolley was left with one child. Dolley married James Madison in 1794 when she was 25. While Madison served as Secretary of State, Dolley served as hostess per Jefferson's request. During the War of 1812, the White House was set on fire by British soldiers. Dolley was setting up for a 40 person dinner party at the time.

While her husband was considered a coward during the war, Dolley was considered a heroine for rescuing the original Declaration of Independence, George Washington's picture and several other federal documents.

She still entertained even through the war in temporary headquarters. After her husband's death, Dolley Payne Todd Madison returned to the capital where friends helped with her income.

She remained in Washington until her death in 1849.

Answer: Jackie Kennedy

Jacqueline Bouvier was born in 1929. She became debutante of the year in 1947. Jackie spent the junior year of college in France. When she met Senator John Kennedy she was a photographer and they married in 1953 in a publicized wedding. Five years after her husband's death, Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis.

In 1994, Jackie Kennedy Onassis died of cancer. Her son, John Kennedy, Jr., described her as having 'a love of words, the bonds of home and family, and her spirit of adventure'.

Answer: Hillary Clinton

Hillary Rodham was born in 1947. She attended Wellesly, Oxford, and Yale college. She met her husband, Bill Clinton, at Yale. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the board of Legal Services Corporation. As first lady, Hillary chaired several organizations. Hilary became the first First Lady of the United States to become a Senator and the first woman in New York to be a State Senator.

Answer: Sara Polk

Sarah Childress was born in 1803. She helped her husband during his political career. Sara was a devout Presbyterian and as such would not let anyone drink or play cards in the White House. During the inaugural ball, she would attend but not dance. Sarah would not let any business be conducted on the Sabbath while they were in the White House. Sara's home was not destroyed during the Civil War because it was deemed neutral by the Union and Confederacy. Sarah Childress Polk remained in 'Polk Place' until her death in 1891.

Answer: Julia Tyler

Julia Gardiner was born in 1820. She was known as the Rose of Long Island. During a family trip to Washington she met John Tyler, who was a widower. Julia became John Tyler's wife the next Spring. After her husband's death, Julia received a pension of $1200 dollars. Julia Gardiner Tyler passed away in 1889.