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Thomas Woodrow Wilson 1856 - 1924

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856 in Staunton, Virginia United States. Thomas was baptized on September 24, 1856 at First Presbyterian Augusta 642 Telfair St, in Augusta, Richmond County, GA. He married Ellen Axson Wilson First Axson Lady on June 24, 1885, and they were married until Ellen's death on August 6, 1914. They had children Margaret Woodrow Wilson, Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre, and Eleanor Randolph (Wilson) McAdoo. He married Edith (Bolling) Wilson on December 18, 1915, and they were married until Thomas' death on February 3, 1924.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

December 28, 1856

Staunton, Virginia, 24401, United States

February 3, 1924

Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, District of Columbia County, District Of Columbia, 20500, United States

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Thomas Woodrow Wilson's History: 1856 - 1924

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Introduction

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving two terms from 1913 to 1921. Born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia, Wilson was the son of a Presbyterian minister and grew up in the South during the Civil War. He was a scholar, a professor, and a politician, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential presidents in American history. During his presidency, Wilson implemented several important progressive reforms, including the creation of the Federal Reserve System, the Clayton Antitrust Act, and the first federal income tax. He also led the United States through World War I, playing a significant role in the Allies' victory and advocating for the League of Nations. Despite his achievements, Wilson's presidency was also marked by controversy and criticism (like many of our U.S. Presidents see Presidential Scandals - 1776 through early 1900's), particularly in relation to his handling of race relations, civil liberties, and the Treaty of Versailles.
12/28

1856

Birthday

December 28, 1856

Birthdate

Staunton, Virginia 24401, United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was a descendant of Scottish and Ulster-Scots immigrants who settled in the British American colonies during the 18th century. His paternal grandfather migrated from Northern Ireland to Ohio in the early 19th century, while his maternal grandfather was born in Scotland and immigrated to America with his family in 1807. Wilson's father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, was a Presbyterian minister who served as a chaplain in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. His mother, Janet Woodrow, was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister from Scotland. Wilson was the third of four children and grew up in the South during the Reconstruction era.
Nationality & Locations

Woodrow Wilson lived in many places throughout his life. He was born in a house in Staunton, Virginia on December 28, 1856, and Wilson's family moved to Columbia South Carolina in 1870, where he attended school and later taught at the university. Wilson attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia from 1879 to 1880 to study law, then practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia from 1882 to 1883. Wilson later became a professor at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey 1890 and served as its president from 1902 to 1910. He was inaugurated as President of the United States on March 4, 1913 and served in the White House until 1921. After suffering a stroke in 1919, Wilson spent several months recuperating in Aiken, South Carolina before returning to the White House. He also traveled extensively within the United States and abroad during his presidency. Wilson moved to Pasadena, California in 1921 after leaving office, where he lived until his death in 1924.
Early Life & Education

Woodrow Wilson was a highly educated man who pursued academic excellence from an early age. He was born in Staunton, Virginia on December 28, 1856, and grew up in a family that valued education. His father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, was a Presbyterian minister and a professor of theology, while his mother, Janet Woodrow Wilson, came from a family of well-educated Presbyterian ministers and educators. Wilson received his early education in his hometown, where he attended private schools before enrolling in the Davidson College in North Carolina. However, he was unhappy there and transferred to the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University, in 1875. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1879, having distinguished himself as a student of exceptional intellectual ability and an outstanding athlete. After completing his undergraduate studies, Wilson enrolled at the University of Virginia Law School in 1879. However, he found the law dull and uninteresting and dropped out after one year. Wilson then returned to the College of New Jersey as a graduate student in political science, where he studied under the renowned political scientist Woodrow Wilson. He received his PhD in political science in 1886 with a thesis on Congressional Government. Wilson went on to have a distinguished career in academia, teaching at several prestigious universities, including Wesleyan University and Princeton University. He also served as the president of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, during which time he transformed the institution into a world-class university. Wilson's lifelong commitment to education and his intellectual curiosity helped shape his political beliefs and shaped his approach to governance as the 28th President of the United States.
09/24

1856

Baptism

September 24, 1856
Baptism date
First Presbyterian Augusta 642 Telfair St, in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia 30901, United States
Place of worship
Religious Beliefs

Woodrow Wilson was raised in a Presbyterian household and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church. Throughout his life, he maintained a strong sense of faith and regularly attended church services, but he was not a particularly religious person in the traditional sense. Wilson was more interested in the philosophical and moral implications of religion, rather than its theological doctrines. He saw religion as a means of promoting social justice and ethical behavior, and he often invoked religious language in his political speeches and writings.
Military Service

Woodrow Wilson did not have any military experience or serve in the military. He was exempt from military service during the Civil War due to poor eyesight, which had plagued him since childhood. Instead, he served in various non-combat roles during the war, including as a tutor and academic administrator. Wilson did, however, serve as Commander-in-Chief during World War I, and played a significant role in guiding the United States through the conflict.
Professional Career

Woodrow Wilson had several jobs throughout his life, which included serving as a professor, university president, and politician. After finishing his education, Wilson joined the faculty of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania as an associate professor of history and political economy. He then moved to Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he worked as a professor of political science and history. In 1902, Wilson became the president of Princeton University, a position he held for eight years. During his tenure, he implemented several academic and administrative reforms and made significant improvements to the university's curriculum. Wilson's political career began in 1910 when he was elected as the Governor of New Jersey. As governor, he introduced several progressive policies, including workers' compensation, direct primaries, and an eight-hour workday for women. His accomplishments as governor earned him national recognition, and in 1912, he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. Wilson won the election and became the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. As President, Wilson implemented several significant reforms, including the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clayton Antitrust Act. He also led the United States through World War I and played a pivotal role in the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war.
Personal Life & Family

Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia in 1856, the third of four children of Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Janet Woodrow Wilson. He had two older sisters, Marion and Annie, and a younger brother, Joseph. Wilson's father was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. Wilson married his first wife, Ellen Axson, in 1885. They had three daughters: Margaret, Jessie, and Eleanor. Ellen was an artist and had a strong influence on Wilson's interest in the arts. She died in 1914, and Wilson remarried in 1915 to Edith Bolling Galt, who was with him during his presidency. Wilson had a close relationship with his family, particularly his father, who instilled in him a love of learning and education. His mother was a strong influence on his moral and religious values. Wilson's siblings were also successful in their own right, with Marion becoming the first female graduate of Cornell University and Annie becoming a published author. Wilson was deeply affected by the death of his first wife, and his relationship with his second wife was complicated. Edith was very protective of him after he suffered a stroke during his presidency, and some have speculated that she played a larger role in his decision-making than was publicly known. Wilson's relationship with his children was also complicated. Margaret was deeply involved in her father's political career and often acted as his surrogate during his presidency. Jessie suffered from mental illness, and Wilson struggled to care for her while also fulfilling his duties as president. Eleanor was often overshadowed by her older sisters but later became a successful author and diplomat in her own right.
02/3

1924

Death

February 3, 1924

Death date

stroke on October 2nd 1919 led to him becoming partially paralyzed and declining health.

Cause of death

Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, District of Columbia County, District Of Columbia 20500, United States
Death location

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02/7

1924

Gravesite & Burial

February 7, 1924

Funeral date
Washington National Cathedral 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, in Washington, District Of Columbia 20016, United States
Burial location
Obituary

"WOODROW WILSON DIES AT HOME HERE; FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SUCCUMBS AFTER LONG ILLNESS; STRICKEN AT CAPITAL IN 1919; BUT LINGERED ON TO SERVE TERM UNTIL MARCH 4, 1921; HISTORY WILL RATE HIM HIGH; WILL BE BURIED IN WASHINGTON; NATIVE OF VIRGINIA; TAUGHT AT PRINCETON; GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY, THEN PRESIDENT. Washington, Feb. 3. -- Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth President of the United States, died at his home in S Street at 11:15 o'clock tonight. Mr. Wilson had been confined to his bed for several weeks and his condition had been critical for the last several days. He was suffering from uremic poisoning and heart failure. The end came quietly, with members of his family and a few intimate friends at his bedside. Death occurred just after Dr. Grayson had given him a hypodermic injection of strychnine to stimulate his weakened heart. During his last hours the physicians had been maintaining the circulation of his blood by the use of saline solutions, and for several days past Mr. Wilson had been kept alive by artificial means. He sank rapidly during the last two hours. As soon as the news of Mr. Wilson's death was received, the President issued an order directing that all Government departments be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the memory of the former President. Washington, Feb. 4. -- The body of Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth President of the United States, lies in state in the East Room of the White House, where it will remain until noon tomorrow. The funeral service will be held at the National Cathedral at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, and the body will be buried at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., where Mr. Wilson spent his early life. The body will leave the White House at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon for the cathedral. A guard of honor, composed of a battalion of soldiers from Fort Myer, Va., will precede the funeral car, which will be followed by President and Mrs. Coolidge and other high officials of the Government." - The New York Times on February 4, 1924

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Thomas Woodrow Wilson lived 5 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 67.

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6 Memories, Stories & Photos about Thomas

AncientFaces

411 favorites

01/09/2012

President Woodrow Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson, seated at desk with his wife, Edith Bolling Galt, standing at his side

The previous October, Wilson had suffered a stroke and many believe that Edith became the de facto President of the United States. For the next 1.5 years of his presidency, he was partially paralyzed and blind and also suffered brain damage.

The French ambassador to the US said that "Wilson was a non-factor in governance. The real power rested with “Mme. President.”

Date & Place: June 1920

Comments

AncientFaces

411 favorites

01/14/2020

Can a woman be US President? Well, many would argue that a woman has been President. 100 years ago, Wilson suffered a stroke (10/1919) and for the next 1.5 years, his wife, Edith, either carried out his wishes - or made the decisions?

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Linda Woody

via Facebook

01/14/2020

Surely behind the scenes Presidential advisors were very helpful and made sure necessary things got done very quietly. The wife likely did help but I doubt she did a lot of governance and political decision-making. Just my own opinion here.

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