Little Known First Ladies: Margaret Taylor Quiz

Answer: Tobacco

Margaret, commonly called Peggy, Smith's father was a wealthy tobacco planter named Walter Smith. Tobacco was an important crop for the American South at the time and the Smiths were among the most prominent tobacco families in Maryland. Her mother was Ann Mackall. Records of Margaret's early life are not plentiful and what exists is often vague or speculative.

Answer: Martha Washington

Nelly Custis was the granddaughter of Martha Washington and her first husband, Daniel. The Custises were also a prominent tobacco family in Maryland and Virginia. Nelly was about nine years older than Margaret but the two were friends for a short period of time.

However toward the end of George Washington's presidency, Nelly spend time in New York City entertaining her grandfather's guests and the two friends lost contact.

Answer: Louisville

At the age of sixteen, Margaret was left an orphan. Unable to take care of herself or manage the plantation, she moved from Maryland to Louisville, Kentucky to live with her sister, Mary Anne. Mary Anne's husband Samuel Chew was also a tobacco planter who traveled in exclusive social circles. One of his friends was Zachary Taylor who married Margaret in 1810.

Answer: Constant moving and war

Margaret and Zachary married in 1810 and by 1812, he was off fighting in the War of 1812. Margaret promised Zachary that she would always be with him while he was off fighting. She moved to wherever he was stationed, often staying in camps and forts. Margaret had been physically healthy and strong but the constant movement took a toll on her.

The Taylors had six children and Margaret often gave birth in unhygienic situations. Margaret's health slowly deteriorated and she was suffered personal tragedies when two of her young daughters died in the fall of 1820 in Louisiana. Margaret sent her surviving children to live with relatives when they were older because she believed frontier life was no life for them.

Answer: True

Sarah Knox Taylor was the oldest surviving daughter of Margaret and Zachary. Sarah married Jefferson Davis, who would later go on to lead the Confederacy, in 1835. Neither Margaret nor Zachary attended the wedding and it is unclear what circumstances the wedding took place. Letters between Margaret and Sarah indicate that Margaret approved of the wedding and regretted not being able to attend. Nothing is known about Zachary's thoughts on the matter but it is known Sarah did not have his permission to marry.

It is not even clear the future president knew of the wedding until after it happened. Sarah died a few months after the wedding and Zachary refused to speak with Jefferson Davis after that. Previously, the two had been friends.

Answer: Give up all means of a luxurious life

During the Mexican-American War, Margaret did not travel with Zachary while he fought, the first time she had not gone with him. Instead, she remained in Louisiana living in a small, dilapidated building. Margaret became very worried about her husband's safety and became religious during this time.

She prayed to God that if Zachary returned home safely, she would give up all means of luxury. Historical records and letters show that Margaret kept her promise to God and lived a life of relative simplicity from then on, even while as First Lady.

Answer: False

Margaret was vehemently opposed to Zachary becoming president but the Whig Party nominated him, playing off his popularity as a successful general. Margaret is said to have prayed daily that Taylor's opponent, Lewis Cass, would win the presidency. Taylor found his wife's displeasure at this amusing and often joked about it.

He once told a man that he would not be voting for himself because his wife would never speak to him again.

Answer: Wardrobe

Margaret Taylor was more or less an absent First Lady. She attended church daily but rarely made public appearances otherwise. Her health was poor and she spent much of the time in her bedroom. She took very little interest in her husband's work and did not try to influence his decisions like other First Ladies did.

Her biggest success was improving Zachary's clothes. The president had a habit of dressing very sloppily and unfashionably and Margaret believed his clothes were undignified. She would sometimes make her husband new clothes while encouraging her daughters to buy better quality clothes for their father.

Answer: She more or less went insane for a brief period of time

Zachary Taylor died (possibly mysteriously) from a sudden stomach ailment in the summer of 1850. Margaret did not handle the news well. She stayed by his side until he died and begged him not to leave her. She seemed not to be able to comprehend how Zachary survived war but not his illness. Ice was used to keep the president's body preserved and Margaret refused to let physicians take the body out the bedroom for some time.

She also had the ice transported away in stages so the body could remain out longer.

She was not well enough to attend the funeral and listened from her own bedroom. Her daughter said that her mother shook and spaced out at times. After leaving the White House, Margaret moved win with her son Dick and did not make any other public appearances until her death except to attend Dick's wedding.

Answer: Her possessions were burned during the Civil War

The house holding all of President and Margaret Taylor's possessions and records was burned and destroyed by Union Troops during the Civil War. As a result, much of their personal lives is lost to history. In the early 1900s, when the Bureau of National Literature and Art published a book about the First Ladies, they had no image of Margaret Taylor as not even a portrait or photograph existed.

They created one based on contemporary reports of what she looked like. It was not until 2010 that a confirmed portrait of Margaret Taylor appeared and was donated to the U.S. Government.