William Wallace Lincoln
William Wallace Lincoln (December 21, 1850 – February 20, 1862) was the third son of President Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. He was named after Mary's brother-in-law, Dr. William Smith Wallace.[1][2] He died of typhoid fever at the White House, during his father's presidency.
"Willie Lincoln" and "Willy Lincoln" redirect here. For other people, see William Lincoln.
William Wallace Lincoln
December 21, 1850
February 20, 1862 (aged 11)
Death[edit]
Willie and Tad became very ill in early 1862 with what was known at the time as "bilious fever," most likely typhoid fever caused by contaminated water systems at the White House. After some days, Tad began to grow stronger, but Willie gradually weakened; Abraham and Mary spent much time at his bedside. He died on February 20.[8]
The whole family was deeply affected. Abraham said, "My poor boy. He was too good for this earth. God has called him home. I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him so much. It is hard, hard to have him die!";[9] after the burial, he shut himself in a room and wept alone. Mary remained in bed for three weeks and was unable to attend Willie's funeral or look after Tad. She never again entered the Green Room, where he was embalmed, or the Prince of Wales room, where he died. Abraham took solace in caring for and comforting Tad, who was still recovering from his illness and was grieving himself for Willie's death. He also lost the companionship of Bud and Holly, whom Mary refused to allow in the White House anymore, as they reminded her too much of Willie.[10]
Willie was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. After Abraham's assassination in 1865, he was reinterred at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, first in a temporary tomb and in 1871 in a state tomb alongside Abraham and his brother, Eddie. Tad and Mary were also later placed in the crypt of the Lincoln Tomb.[11][12]
In fiction[edit]
The 2017 novel Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders takes place during and after Willie's death and depicts Abraham's journey through his grief.[13][14] It won the 2017 Man Booker Prize and was the New York Times bestseller the week of March 5, 2017.[15]
See also "The Murder of Willie Lincoln" by Burt Solomon (Forge, 2017, ISBN 978-0-7653-8583-3).
A fictional version of Willie's death is also depicted in the novel and its subsequent movie Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.