Caroline Fillmore
Encyclopedia
Caroline Carmichael McIntosh Fillmore (October 21, 1813 – August 11, 1881) was the second wife of thirteenth U.S. President Millard Fillmore
. They were married in 1858, five years after his term of office expired.
Caroline Carmichael was born October 21, 1813 in Morristown, New Jersey
, the daughter of Charles Carmichael and Temperance Blachley-Carmichael. She married her first husband, Ezekiel C. McIntosh (1806–1855), a prosperous Troy, New York
merchant and president of the Schenectady and Troy Railroad
, in November 1832. They had no children, and McIntosh's death at age 49 left her very wealthy.
She married former President Fillmore on February 10, 1858 in Albany, New York
. At the time of their marriage, Caroline required Fillmore to sign a prenuptial agreement. The couple purchased a mansion on Niagara Square in Buffalo
, where they settled. They are believed to have had a happy marriage (Caroline greatly enjoyed her newfound status as the wife of a former President), though in the 1860s her mental and physical health began to decline. Her husband's sudden death in 1874 (he had enjoyed relatively good health—especially when compared to hers—until just shortly before his fatal stroke) only succeeded in making her more infirm, eccentric, and temperamental.
In her final years she frequently changed her will, and upon her death on August 11, 1881, aged 67, suits were initiated by various members of the Fillmore family contesting her directives.
She is buried in the Fillmore family plot at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
. They were married in 1858, five years after his term of office expired.
Caroline Carmichael was born October 21, 1813 in Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, the daughter of Charles Carmichael and Temperance Blachley-Carmichael. She married her first husband, Ezekiel C. McIntosh (1806–1855), a prosperous Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
merchant and president of the Schenectady and Troy Railroad
Schenectady and Troy Railroad
The Schenectady and Troy Railroad was incorporated May 21, 1836. The stock was divided into five hundred shares at one hundred dollars each. The building of the road began in 1841, and trains began running from Schenectady to Troy, New York in the fall of 1841 . It was constructed by the city of...
, in November 1832. They had no children, and McIntosh's death at age 49 left her very wealthy.
She married former President Fillmore on February 10, 1858 in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. At the time of their marriage, Caroline required Fillmore to sign a prenuptial agreement. The couple purchased a mansion on Niagara Square in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where they settled. They are believed to have had a happy marriage (Caroline greatly enjoyed her newfound status as the wife of a former President), though in the 1860s her mental and physical health began to decline. Her husband's sudden death in 1874 (he had enjoyed relatively good health—especially when compared to hers—until just shortly before his fatal stroke) only succeeded in making her more infirm, eccentric, and temperamental.
In her final years she frequently changed her will, and upon her death on August 11, 1881, aged 67, suits were initiated by various members of the Fillmore family contesting her directives.
She is buried in the Fillmore family plot at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.