Floride Calhoun
Encyclopedia
Floride Bonneau Calhoun was the wife of prominent U.S. politician John C. Calhoun
.
and Floride Bonneau. She was a niece of Rebecca Colhoun Pickens, wife of Andrew Pickens
. On January 8, 1811, she married John C. Calhoun
, her first-cousin-once-removed (her father's first cousin). Soon after their marriage, her husband was elected to Congress
, leaving his wife in charge of his plantation, "Fort Hill," in present-day Clemson, South Carolina
. Within the next eighteen years, she gave birth to ten children, including five sons and five daughters, although three daughters died in infancy.
In 1817, she accompanied her husband to Washington upon his appointment as Secretary of War
.
, with her husband's election as Vice President
, serving in that role from 1825 to 1832.
, the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton, in what became known as the Petticoat affair
. Calhoun had organized a coalition among the wives of Jackson cabinet members against Peggy Eaton, whom Calhoun believed had committed adultery with Eaton while still married to her first husband John B. Timberlake
. The affair allegedly drove Timberlake to suicide after he discovered the affair. The coalition resulted in the resignation of Jackson's Cabinet, except Secretary of State
Martin Van Buren
, who was a widower. The social ostracism of Mrs. Eaton by Mrs. Calhoun further damaged already-strained relations between Vice President Calhoun and President Andrew Jackson
.
, she returned to "Fort Hill," resuming her former status as a plantation mistress. Her husband died in 1850. In 1854, she sold the plantation to her oldest son, Andrew Pickens Calhoun, and held the mortgage. In 1855, she moved to a smaller house in Pendleton, South Carolina
, which she dubbed "Mi Casa." She endured the deaths of six of her seven surviving children. After Andrew died in 1865, she filed for foreclosure
against Andrew's heirs.
in 1872, after lengthy legal proceedings. The executor of her estate won the auction, which was divided among her surviving heirs. Her daughter, Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson and son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson
, received about three-quarters of the plantation including the house and her great granddaughter, Floride Isabella Lee, received the balance.
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
.
Background and early life
She was born Floride Bonneau Colhoun to U.S. Senator John E. ColhounJohn E. Colhoun
John Ewing Colhoun was a United States Senator and lawyer from South Carolina.Colhoun, was born in Staunton, Virginia where he attended common schools before graduating from the College of New Jersey in 1774. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1778 to 1800...
and Floride Bonneau. She was a niece of Rebecca Colhoun Pickens, wife of Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens (congressman)
Andrew Pickens was a militia leader in the American Revolution and a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina.-Early life:...
. On January 8, 1811, she married John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, her first-cousin-once-removed (her father's first cousin). Soon after their marriage, her husband was elected to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, leaving his wife in charge of his plantation, "Fort Hill," in present-day Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
. Within the next eighteen years, she gave birth to ten children, including five sons and five daughters, although three daughters died in infancy.
In 1817, she accompanied her husband to Washington upon his appointment as Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
.
Second Lady
Eight years later, she became Second Lady of the United StatesSecond Lady of the United States
Second lady of the United States is an informal title for the wife of the vice president of the United States, coined in contrast to the first lady ....
, with her husband's election as Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, serving in that role from 1825 to 1832.
Petticoat affair
During her tenure as Second Lady, she became embroiled in a social scandal involving Margaret O'Neill EatonMargaret O'Neill Eaton
Margaret O'Neill Eaton , better known as Peggy Eaton, was the daughter of Rhoda Howell and William O'Neale, the owner of Franklin House, a popular Washington, D.C. hotel. Peggy was noted for her beauty, wit and vivacity...
, the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton, in what became known as the Petticoat affair
Petticoat Affair
The Petticoat affair was an 1830–1831 U.S. scandal involving members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet and their wives. Although it started over a private matter, it affected the political careers of several men and resulted in the informal "Kitchen Cabinet"...
. Calhoun had organized a coalition among the wives of Jackson cabinet members against Peggy Eaton, whom Calhoun believed had committed adultery with Eaton while still married to her first husband John B. Timberlake
John B. Timberlake
John B. Timberlake was a protagonist in the American political scandal known as the Petticoat affair. His wife Peggy O'Neill Timberlake was said to have had an affair with John Eaton, who became Secretary of War in President Andrew Jackson's cabinet...
. The affair allegedly drove Timberlake to suicide after he discovered the affair. The coalition resulted in the resignation of Jackson's Cabinet, except Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
, who was a widower. The social ostracism of Mrs. Eaton by Mrs. Calhoun further damaged already-strained relations between Vice President Calhoun and President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
.
Return to South Carolina
Following her husband's resignation as Vice President and election to the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, she returned to "Fort Hill," resuming her former status as a plantation mistress. Her husband died in 1850. In 1854, she sold the plantation to her oldest son, Andrew Pickens Calhoun, and held the mortgage. In 1855, she moved to a smaller house in Pendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,966 at the 2000 census. It is a sister city of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland....
, which she dubbed "Mi Casa." She endured the deaths of six of her seven surviving children. After Andrew died in 1865, she filed for foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
against Andrew's heirs.
Protracted estate issues
Following her death in 1866, the plantation was auctioned at WalhallaWalhalla, South Carolina
Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The population was 3,801 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Oconee County...
in 1872, after lengthy legal proceedings. The executor of her estate won the auction, which was divided among her surviving heirs. Her daughter, Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson and son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson
Thomas Green Clemson
Thomas Green Clemson, was an American politician and statesman, serving as an ambassador and the United States Superintendent of Agriculture. He served in the Confederate States Army...
, received about three-quarters of the plantation including the house and her great granddaughter, Floride Isabella Lee, received the balance.