Born on October 27, 1858, Teddy Roosevelt came into the world on a date that would later double as his wedding anniversary — he married Alice Hathaway Lee on October 27, 1880. The couple eased into the rhythms of domestic life, with Roosevelt serving as a New York State Assemblyman and cleverly cutting costs by rolling his birthday and anniversary into a single celebration.
A Life Of Loss
Tragedy descended on Roosevelt's life in 1884, just two days after his daughter was born — and it came in a brutal one-two punch. His mother succumbed to typhoid fever, and then Alice was taken by kidney failure. Shattered by grief, Roosevelt entrusted his newborn daughter to the care of his sister and set off to find himself out west, turning to cattle ranching as a way to cope. He picked up hunting and threw himself into cultivating what he later described as "the stern, manly qualities that are invaluable to a nation." It was also during this chapter of his life that he became deeply committed to nature conservation efforts.
But the west had its own cruelties in store. The Big Die-Up — as people called the freakishly severe winter of 1886-1887 — destroyed his entire cattle herd. Crushed yet again, Roosevelt reversed course, headed back east, and threw himself into the world of politics once more.
Roosevelt in Politics
For the next several years, Roosevelt bounced between various political positions and, when the Spanish-American War erupted in 1898, volunteered to fight. His distinguished leadership during the conflict catapulted him to the governorship of New York, then to the vice presidency of the United States. And when President McKinley fell to an assassin's bullet, Roosevelt ascended to the presidency itself — the role for which he is remembered today.
Major Accomplishments
Serving as the first president of the 20th century, Teddy Roosevelt left an outsized mark on the nation and the world. He oversaw construction of the Panama Canal, broke apart monopolies, championed environmental conservation, and earned a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering peace between Russia and Japan. He also holds the distinction of being the first president trailed by cameras wherever he went, thanks to the rise of motion pictures during his time in office. His autobiography remains a fascinating read — though notably, it never once mentions Alice. For the rest of his life, she remained a subject far too painful for him to discuss.
Happy Birthday Teddy!
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. entered the world on this day in 1858, born to Martha Stewart Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt Sr. As the first president of the 20th century, he made his mark by overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal, dismantling monopolies, championing environmental conservation, and securing a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering peace between Russia and Japan.
But what was daily life really like for the man who carried a big stick? Read on to find out.