Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alice Hathaway Roosevelt
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Alice Hathaway Lee, c. 1880–1884
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Alice Hathaway Lee
July 29, 1861 |
| Died | February 14, 1884 (aged 22) |
| Resting place | Green-Wood Cemetery Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Alice Roosevelt Longworth |
| Relatives | George Cabot Lee Jr. (brother) |
Alice Hathaway Roosevelt (born Lee; July 29, 1861 – February 14, 1884) was an American socialite. She was the first wife of Theodore Roosevelt, who later became a U.S. President. Alice sadly passed away from a serious kidney illness just two days after her daughter was born.
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Alice's Early Life
Alice Hathaway Lee was born on July 29, 1861. Her family lived in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Her father, George Cabot Lee, was a banker. Alice was known for her beauty and charm. She had blue-gray eyes and long, wavy golden hair. Her family and friends called her "Sunshine." This nickname came from her very cheerful personality.
How Alice Met Theodore Roosevelt
Alice Lee met Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr. on October 18, 1878. They met at the home of her relatives, the Saltonstalls. Theodore Roosevelt was a classmate of Alice's cousin at Harvard University. Theodore later wrote about their first meeting. He said he would never forget how sweet she looked and how nicely she greeted him.
Their Engagement and Wedding
Theodore asked Alice to marry him in June 1879. She waited eight months before saying yes. Their engagement was announced on February 14, 1880.
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Alice was 19 years old when she married Theodore. Their wedding was on October 27, 1880. This was also Theodore's 22nd birthday. The ceremony took place at the Unitarian Church in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The couple's main honeymoon was delayed. This was because Theodore started attending Columbia Law School. They spent the first two weeks of their marriage at a summer home. It was called "Tranquility" in Oyster Bay. After that, they lived with Theodore's widowed mother, Martha Stewart "Mittie" Bulloch.
Life as a Married Couple
Alice joined her husband in the busy social life of New York's elite. In 1881, they traveled through Europe for five months. In October 1882, Alice moved to Albany. This is where her husband worked in New York state politics. She learned a lot about how the state government worked.
In the summer of 1883, Alice became pregnant. The Roosevelts were planning for a big family. They bought land near "Tranquility" to build a large home. That fall, Alice moved back to New York City. She stayed with her mother-in-law.
A Sad Loss
Alice gave birth to her daughter on February 12, 1884. The baby was named Alice Lee Roosevelt. Theodore was in Albany for his work. He was a member of the New York State Assembly. He thought their baby would be born on Valentine's Day. This was the fourth anniversary of their engagement.
Theodore received a telegram on the morning of February 13. It told him about the birth. He planned to leave Albany that afternoon. Another telegram arrived about Alice's health. By the time Theodore got home, around midnight, Alice was very ill. She passed away on the afternoon of February 14, 1884. She was only 22 years old. Doctors later found that a serious kidney illness had been hidden by her pregnancy.
Theodore Roosevelt was heartbroken after Alice's death. He rarely spoke about her again. He gave their newborn daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt, to his older sister, Anna "Bamie" Roosevelt, to care for. Theodore knew his sister would likely not marry. As she grew up, Alice Lee learned about her mother mostly from her Aunt Bamie and her Lee grandparents. Theodore never talked to his daughter about her mother. He even tore pages from his diary about Alice. He also burned almost all the letters they had written to each other. When his daughter was three years old, Theodore and his second wife, Edith Kermit Carow, took her into their home.
Where Alice Was Buried
Alice Roosevelt was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. She was laid to rest next to her mother-in-law, Mittie. Mittie had passed away just hours before Alice. Both families held a joint funeral for the two women. It took place at New York's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
See also
In Spanish: Alice Hathaway Lee para niños
