Ann Rutledge (1813 – 1835) was allegedly Abraham Lincoln's first love.
Many of the facts of her life are lost to history, but some historians believe that she was the first love of Abraham Lincoln. The exact nature of the Lincoln–Rutledge relationship has been debated by historians and non-historians since 1865.
The story goes that Rutledge was engaged to marry John MacNamar, a dubious character who left for New York and promised to marry her upon his return. Rutledge and Lincoln met after this and supposedly fell in love while MacNamar was away and she promised to marry Lincoln after MacNamar released her. For a time Rutledge and MacNamar exchanged letters, but his letters became more formal and less ardent in turn and eventually ceased completely. MacNamar never returned before her death.
In 1835, a wave of typhoid hit the town of New Salem. Ann Rutledge died at the age of 22 on August 25, 1835. This sad event left Lincoln severely depressed.
- " She was described as bright and beautiful, with auburn hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion..." https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2013/10/ann-rutledge.html
- "She was red-haired, of moderate, well-proportioned figure..." https://www.theatlantic.com/.../01/lincoln-the-lover/304445/
- " She shone as she ran with her blue eyes and long red hair through his dark little village..." https://www.garymoore.news/ann-rutledge
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