The Unseen Struggle of Mary Todd Lincoln: Mental Illness in 19th Century America Mary Todd Lincoln's life has been extensively documented by historians, but one aspect of her story remains largely unexplored: her struggle with mental illness.
As the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, she was a public figure subject to intense scrutiny, yet her inner turmoil was hidden from view.
Her experiences are a testament to the societal norms that perpetuated stigma around mental illness in 19th century America. Mary Todd Lincoln was born into a wealthy family in Kentucky in 1818.