Margaret (Peggy) O?Neal (who preffered to be called Margaret) was born in 1799 in Washington DC. She was the daughter of William O?Neal, who owned a thriving boarding house and tavern called the Franklin House in that same town. It was frequented by senators, congressmen, and all politicians. She was the oldest of six children, growing up in the midst of our nation?s emerging political scene. She was always a favorite of the visitors to the Franklin House. She was sent to one of the best schools in Washington DC, where she studied English and French grammar, needlework and music. She also had quite a talent for dance, and was sent to private lessons, becoming a very good dancer. At the age of twelve, she danced for the First Lady Dolley Madison. Visitors of the Franklin House also commented on her piano playing skills.
During Margaret?s teenage years, there were many rumors circulating about her romances. The stories included one of a suitor who swallowed poison after she refused to return his affections, one of her being briefly linked to the son of President Jefferson?s treasury secretary, and one of her botched elopement to a young aide of General Winfield Scott. As the story goes, she accidentally kicked over a flowerpot during her climb down from a bedroom window, which woke her father, who promptly dragged her back inside.
When Jackson first met Margaret at the age of 24, he took an immediate liking to her. The tavern had been recommended to him by his close friend John Henry Eaton, who would later marry Miss O?Neal and cause quite a scandal. Jackson?s wife, when meeting Margaret a year later, was equally taken with her.
Margaret married a navy purser named John Bowie Timberlake. They had three children together, one whom died while still an infant. When John was gone at sea, John Eaton entered the picture again, escorting Margaret on drives and to parties. The rumors flew around town of Margaret and Eaton?s supposed affair, and of her husband?s drunkenness. The people around town were all saying that the reason Timberlake kept sailing was to avoid his wife?s obvious philandering. Timberlake was soon reassigned to the Mediterranean squadron. The Mediterranean was very hot and contained few friendly ports in those days, making it a less than pleasant assignment. Timberlake died while in the Mediterranean, the official cause was pulmonary disease. It is also reported that he committed suicide, some said because of his wife?s behavior. Eaton married Margaret shortly after Timberlake?s death, which caused a bit of a commotion. The real cause for the disapproval was that Margaret and Eaton had been living together before Timberlake was killed. There were also rumors that Margaret had miscarried Eaton?s child before they were married, but it is hard to say if there is any truth in that.
All of the preceding events rose many eyebrows in Washington DC, especially among the elite politician?s wives. Floride Calhoun, wife of Vice President John Calhoun, accepted a social call from the Eatons after their marriage, but refused to pay a return visit. This was viewed in Washington DC as a snub. Jackson?s advisors encouraged him not to appoint Eaton into his cabinet, saying that his reputation would damage Jackson?s chances for the Presidency. This only angered Jackson, who recalled the earlier mistreatment of his wife, Rachel, during his first run for the presidency. There had been a misunderstanding about her previous divorce, and it turned out that she and Jackson had not been married when they had thought, since her divorce was not yet final. They had in fact, been living quite publicly in sin for over two years. They quickly repeated their vows, but the political and personal repercussions had already taken effect. Rachel died of a heart attack less than three months before Jackson?s inauguration, and Jackson always blamed his competing party for her death.
Jackson was determined to have the Eatons accepted in polite Washington DC society. After dealing with the so called petticoat affair for a few months, Jackson called all of his cabinet, with the exception of John Eaton, to a special meeting. He produced many witnesses who testified to Margaret?s character, and considered the matter over. He held his overdue cabinet dinner soon afterward. All of the cabinet members and their wives attended, but everyone ate very quickly in order to avoid conversation with the Eatons, whom Jackson had sat in places of honor at the head of the table. Van Buren held another party not much later which all of the cabinet members attended, while all of their wives found excuses not to attend.
Jackson soon began to believe that it was not only the members of his cabinet that were carrying on this affair, but also his political enemies in an effort to bring him down. It was also no coincidence that the cabinet members most opposed to the Eatons were loyal to Calhoun, whom Jackson was starting to distrust. Calhoun had helped to elect Jackson, assuming that he would become the next president. Van Buren was gaining Jackson?s approval at the same time that Calhoun was losing it. He had remained supportive and friendly with the Eatons since the beginning of the affair. Jackson began to look to him as his successor in the Presidency.
Nevertheless, the rumors still flew surrounding the Eatons. The press was merciless. One newspaper even claimed that Eaton had fathered a child with a black servant.
All events came to a head in April of 1831 when Van Buren offered to resign, and recommended that Eaton do the same. It was common protocol that if two members of the cabinet resigned, the rest would do so out of courtesy in order to allow the president to reorganize his cabinet. With some resistance, all of the cabinet members resigned, allowing Jackson to rename the members and hopefully end the affair once and for all. The newspapers attributed the cabinet?s fall the Margaret Eaton, and everyone thought that Jackson had doomed any hope for reelection.
Jackson was reelected, with Van Buren as a running mate. He quickly sent Eaton to the Florida territory, where he became governor. Two years later, Jackson appointed Eaton as the United States minister to Spain. Margaret and John thoroughly enjoyed their lives in Spain for a period of four years.
John Eaton died in 1856, leaving Margaret a small fortune. She lived in Washington DC with her two daughters, both of whom married into high society. It seemed as though Margaret finally had the societal life and respect she had always wanted. She changed all of that when, at the age of 59, she married her granddaughter?s 19 year old dance tutor, Antonio Buchignani. A mere five years later, he ran off to Italy with her money and her granddaughter.
Другие работы по теме:
Rape Fantasies Essay Research Paper
“Rape Fantasies” Irony is the use of words to express something different from and opposite to their literal meaning. It is used with tone and style to create humorous situations. There are various forms of irony. Margaret Atwood uses situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony in “Rape Fantasies”.
Historical Notes In The Handmaid
’s Tale Essay, Research Paper Historical Notes on The Handmaid?s Tale? The Handmaid?s Tale by Margaret Atwood is an intriguing look into a darker one of infinite possibilities that our future as a country offers. The
The Haunting
– Captures Reader’s Attention Using The Character Barney Essay, Research Paper In the novel, The Haunting, the author Margaret Mahy captures the reader’s imagaintion using the character, Barney. He captures the reader’s imagination through the way she describes his personality which is shy and caring.
Maggie Obituary Essay Research Paper Margaret Johnson
Maggie Obituary Essay, Research Paper Margaret Johnson, only daughter of Mary Murphy: found dead in the East River at age 23 Margaret Johnson, also called Maggie, was a successful seamstress and the only daughter of Mary Murphy died on November 19 in the East River where she was spotted floating atop the freezing cold water.
Richard Iii Essay Research Paper Richard IIIIn
Richard Iii Essay, Research Paper Richard III In Richard III, Shakespeare invites us on moral holiday. The early part of the play draws its readres to identify with Richard and thereby to participate in a
Napster Controversy Essay Research Paper NapsterWhat is
Napster Controversy Essay, Research Paper Napster What is the big deal with the whole napster controversy? All it is is a network, which allows millions of people to share files, which are already available on the Internet.
Bram Shipely Essay Research Paper Bram ShipelyA
Bram Shipely Essay, Research Paper Bram Shipely A character who stood for the average middle class man of the time. Bram was rejected by the citizens of Manawak. For if Hagar could have her way, Bram would have been a different man.
Flora Rheta SchreiberS
“Sybil” Essay, Research Paper Do you ever feel as though you are acting as a different person in different situations? Do you ever feel as though acting “fake”? You are definitely not alone in your thoughts and feelings, but do note that there is always something or someone more extreme than you are.
Gandhi Fighter Essay Research Paper Without a
Gandhi Fighter Essay, Research Paper Without a Sword Gandhi, one of the world?s greatest figures, has already become a legend. In this book Jeanette Eaton shows him as a human being. While
I Heard An Owl Call My Name
Essay, Research Paper I Heard An Owl Call My Name I Heard An Owl Call My Name is a novel written by Margaret Craven, published in 1973. Margaret Craven was born in Helena, Montana and graduated from Stanford University. She started off with her short stories in a large number of American magazines. Some of these stories have been translated into other languages.
Comparing Tragedies How To Tell A War
Story, And Deat By Landscape) Essay, Research Paper Tim O’Brien’s “How to Tell a Ture War Sotry” and Margaret Atwood’s “Death by Landscape” are tragic stories that are relived through the memories of the narrators.
Indian Creation Myth Essay Research Paper There
Indian Creation Myth Essay, Research Paper There are many interpretations of the Indian creation myth. They are all representations of the main principle of Brahman, which is described as being “everywhere and nowhere, everything and nothing.” (A Dictionary of Creation Myths, p.139, David Leeming and Margaret Leeming) Creation came from Brahman’s thought, or the actions of the god Brahma, who is the representation of Brahman as a man.
Ronald Regan Essay Research Paper The perceptions
Ronald Regan Essay, Research Paper The perceptions of Ronald Reagan as a political figure and a foreign policy maker are numerous. He was seen by some, as an “warrior”, by others such as Margaret Thatcher, as a savior, the man who “won the cold war without firing a shot. Some people were concerned about the idea of having a president who had “prejudices about the Soviet Union.
All Is Not Well In The Land
Of The Lion King Essay, Research Paper All is Well in Land of ?The Lion King? In the article, All?s Not Well in Land of ?The Lion King,? by Margaret Lazarus, the author over exaggerates an animated classic, investigating as to whether or not the movie is politically correct and morally right. The essay examines and stereotypes the movie, and comes to various misguided conclusions.
Philip Levine Essay Research Paper Margaret Bourke
Philip Levine Essay, Research Paper Margaret Bourke- White Kelly Van Sickle Margaret Bourke- White never thought she would be a famous photographer. In 1921, when Margaret was 17, she went to college to study herpetology, or the study of snakes and reptiles. That same year her father died leaving her family with little money.
Information Security Essay Research Paper Emerging Opportunities
Information Security Essay, Research Paper Emerging Opportunities and The Internet – Information Security by Margaret Headley “Using encryption on the Internet is the equivalent of arranging an armoured car to deliver credit card information from someone living in a cardboard box to someone living on a park bench.” Gene Spafford, computer security researcher, Purdue University.
Utopian Society Essay Research Paper The utopian
Utopian Society Essay, Research Paper The utopian society in The Handmaid?s Tale by Margaret Atwood is very different from what most people would consider a utopian society. The power of this society rests upon a small percentage of the population. In this society, men are superior to the women. Women have virtually no rights or say in what goes on in their lives and women with rights are only a few.
Margaret Laurence Essay Research Paper Jean Margaret
Margaret Laurence Essay, Research Paper Jean Margaret (Peggy) Wemyss was born in Neepewa, Manitoba on July 18, 1926 to Robert Harrison Wemyss, a lawyer, and Verna Jean, nee Simpson. Margaret s mother died when she was only four and her father later married her sister, Margaret Cambell Simpson, a teacher and later a librarian.
Ketchup Essay Research Paper October 30 2000Ms
Ketchup Essay, Research Paper October 30, 2000 Ms. Peggy Charen 5335 W. Lake Dr. Memphis, TN 65804 Dear Ms. Charen I received your letter concerning the new Ketchup labels. I can see where you are coming from, but can assure you that is not what is happening in our classrooms.
School Girls Essay Research Paper In the
School Girls Essay, Research Paper In the book School Girls by Peggy Orenstein, the focus is on young adolescent girls in middle school, and the effects that the ?Hidden Curriculum? and other elements have on their self esteem. ?Hidden Curriculum teaches girls to value silence and compliance.? (pg.35) The hidden curriculum is a theory that boys often get more attention than girls in the classroom, and that even if it is negative attention, the girls learn that they are not as important, and they eventually give up hope, and stop speaking out in class.
Margaret Thatcher Essay Research Paper Margaret ThatcherMargaret
Margaret Thatcher Essay, Research Paper Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving Prime Minister for more than a century and was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister. A graduate of Oxford, with a master of arts degree she worked as a research chemist and a barrister, concentrating on tax law, before being elected to the House of Commons in 1953.
Julia Margaret Cameron Essay Research Paper Juliet
Julia Margaret Cameron Essay, Research Paper Juliet Margaret Cameron was a Pioneer Victorian photographer during the nineteenth century. She took up photography later in life at the age forty-eight when her daughter presented her with a camera. This simple gift sparked enthusiasm in Cameron and led her to become one of the most colorful personalities in photography.Cameron was born in Calcutta in 1815 to a well to do British Family.
Is Over Population Alone Responsible For Wars
? Essay, Research Paper Is population alone responsible for war? Margaret Sanger was one of the eleven children in her family. She studied nursing and worked as obstetrical nurse. She started advocating the importance of birth control in 1912 when she nursed a woman who died in her arms after a self-induced abortion.
Conscience Essay Research Paper Conscience
Conscience Essay, Research Paper Conscience Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary defines conscience as “the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own
Owens Valley Aquaduct Essay Research Paper Two
Owens Valley Aquaduct Essay, Research Paper Two hundred and fifty miles north of the busy streets of Los Angeles, in Inyo County, lay the serene Owens Valley. The Owens Valley is a vast terrain that is bounded by the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range at one end and the barren Death Valley desert at its other end.
Apartment For Peggy Essay Research Paper The
Apartment For Peggy Essay, Research Paper The Role of Education In the movie ?Apartment for Peggy,? education is a big issue. Most middle and lower class people back in that day could not really afford to go to college. When the G.I. Bill was amended for returning Veterans, allowing them free education, it opened a door of possibilities for these people.
Pat Conroy Essay Research Paper Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy Essay, Research Paper Pat Conroy was an author who grew up in South Carolina.His works were influenced by his life and experiences which occurred from when he was young to
Margaret Cochran Corbin Essay Research Paper Margaret
Margaret Cochran Corbin Essay, Research Paper Margaret Cochran Corbin (1751-c.1800) fought alongside her husband in the American Revolutionary War and was the first woman to receive pension from the United States government as a disabled soldier. She was born Nov. 12, 1751 near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., orphaned at the age of five and was raised by relatives.
Benedict Arnold Essay Research Paper SS 9
Benedict Arnold Essay, Research Paper S.S 9 L.G 10 Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold was one of the important figures in the American Revolution. He began as a patriot, and soon later married a loyalist. Benedict
A Femme Fatal S Tragedy Essay Research
Paper A femme fatal s tragedy: Women s mundane life In “Siren Song Many of Margaret Atwood s heroines are independent, strong, and self serving. Those same characteristics are evident in “Siren Song.” In “Siren Song,” Margaret Atwood paints the picture of a mythical femme fatal who lures men to their deaths.