About Eleanor Roosevelt
On October 11, 1884 Eleanor Roosevelt was born into a family of wealth and sadness. She was the first born child of Anna Hall Roosevelt and Elliott Roosevelt. Her father, mourning the death of his mother and suffering with his own health problems turned to alcohol and was often absent from home. Her mother struggled with her responsibilities toward Eleanor and her younger brother, Hall.
Her mother, one of New York’s most stunning beauties, made Eleanor profoundly self-conscious about her demeanor and appearance, even going so far as to nickname her “Granny” for her “very plain,” “old fashioned,” and serious deportment. Remembering her childhood, Eleanor later wrote, “I was a solemn child without beauty. I seemed like a little old woman entirely lacking in the spontaneous joy and mirth of youth.”
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt married Franklin Delano Roosevelt on March 17, 1905. President Theodore Roosevelt, who was in town for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, gave the bride, his niece, away.
It was Eleanor who persuaded Franklin to stay in politics following his partial paralysis from polio, and began to give speeches and campaign in his place. After Franklin’s election as Governor of New York, Eleanor regularly made public appearances on his behalf.
Later she shaped the role of First Lady during her tenure and for the Presidential wives who came after.