The future wife of President John Tyler, Julia Gardiner Tyler, caused quite the stir for the time period when she posed in an advertisement in a department store.
It was considered quite improper to pose with a man who was not one’s relative, and Julia Tyler did just that. Imagine the horror! She was sent to Europe promptly afterward as a punishment for the advertisement.
Evelyn Nesbit Had a Swinging Time at the Toy Store
Playing at the toy store isn’t just for children. Actress Evelyn Nesbit was asked to swing in a red velvet swing that belonged to architect Stanford White. The swing was in the apartment of the architect, which was above the FAO Schwartz toy store.
Oddly, White also asked the actress to kick a parasol while swinging until it was shredded. This lavish, strange scene may not have been fit for children’s eyes!
Harriet Tubman Used to be a Spy
That’s right. This historical hero was a spy for the Union Army before she gained her fame helping people to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. This woman had quite the resume!
This President Married His Wife While She Was Still Married…
...to someone else! President Andrew Jackson married his wife, Rachel, while she was still legally married to her first husband.
She filed for divorce, but her husband was abusive and did not cooperate in the time period before Rachel Jackson married Andrew.
Grover Cleveland Was Almost Three Decades Older Than His Wife
Maybe it wasn’t uncommon during the time, but a bit disturbingly, Frances Folsom Cleveland married President Grover Cleveland even though she was 27 years younger than him.
They met because Grover Cleveland was friends with Frances’ dad. That must have been an awkward wedding!