Martha Washington was the devoted wife of the first president. When she was 18, she married a wealthy planter named Daniel Park Custis. After her first husband died, Martha was courted by George and on a snowy day in 1759, George married Martha and became one of the richest men in the colonies due to her fortune. All his life, George carried a locket around his neck with Martha's image in it.

Martha was only as tall as George's shoulders and was once described as "Rather fleshy...of good complexion, has a large portly double chin and an open and engaging Countenance, in which a pleasing smile sets".

Martha was in charge of the whole domestic scene at Mt. Vernon (their Virginia home) and in Philadelphia at the President's House. She would check the kitchen after every breakfast, direct the dinner courses, oversee the preparation of salt cod (which the President loved), make sure the house was scrubbed top to bottom, the beds were aired out, and fresh vegetables were always ready. She took charge of all the domestic staff, enslaved or free, and taught them to spin, weave, knit, sew, cook and serve. While the First Lady in Philadelphia, Martha would host Friday night "levees" (parties) from about 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and would serve orangeade.

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