Francesca Donner
Encyclopedia
Francesca Maria Barbara Donner (June 15, 1900 March 19, 1992) was the second wife of Syngman Rhee
, and thus was the first First Lady
of South Korea
from 1948 to 1960.
, which would be incorporated into Vienna
in 1938. She worked at the League of Nations
in Geneva
as an interpreter, diplomat, and hostess. In 1933, she met Korean politician Syngman Rhee
(Yi Seung-man 이승만) in a Geneva hotel. At the time Rhee was living in the United States
, he was only on a visit in Geneva. He visited her shortly afterwards in Austria and asked to marry her. Donner followed him to the US, and the marriage took place in 1934 in New York. For both, it was a second marriage.
They lived initially in New York and Washington, DC, and then in Hawaii
, where a large Korean community in exile was politically active. Donner worked in the US as Rhee's secretary, particularly in the preparation of the book Japan Inside Out (1940).
After the defeat of Japan in World War II, Rhee returned to Korea in October 1946 with the support of the US government; Donner followed him there a few months later.
In March 1948, Rhee was elected first president of the Republic of Korea, an office he held until 1960. "Francesca Rhee" was from 1948 to 1960 the first First Lady of South Korea. She appeared at her husband's side in almost all public functions.
When the Rhees were forced into exile in 1960, they settled in Hawaii. Donner cared for her husband after he suffered a stroke and until his death on July 19, 1965. She then returned to Austria.
After five years of residence in Austria, which she had left more than 30 years earlier, Donner returned to Korea in 1970. She lived from 1970 to 1992 in Seoul, specifically in the Ihwajang, the former home of President Rhee, together with their adoptive son, Rhee In-soo (Yi In-su 이인수) and his family. She died in 1992 in Seoul.
Although women in South Korea generally do not take their husband's family name, Franziska's name sometimes appeared as "Francesca Rhee."
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
, and thus was the first First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
from 1948 to 1960.
Life
Franziska Donner was born in the municipality of InzersdorfInzersdorf (Vienna)
Inzersdorf was before 1938 an independent municipality, and is now a part of the 23rd Viennese district Liesing....
, which would be incorporated into Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1938. She worked at the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
as an interpreter, diplomat, and hostess. In 1933, she met Korean politician Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
(Yi Seung-man 이승만) in a Geneva hotel. At the time Rhee was living in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he was only on a visit in Geneva. He visited her shortly afterwards in Austria and asked to marry her. Donner followed him to the US, and the marriage took place in 1934 in New York. For both, it was a second marriage.
They lived initially in New York and Washington, DC, and then in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where a large Korean community in exile was politically active. Donner worked in the US as Rhee's secretary, particularly in the preparation of the book Japan Inside Out (1940).
After the defeat of Japan in World War II, Rhee returned to Korea in October 1946 with the support of the US government; Donner followed him there a few months later.
In March 1948, Rhee was elected first president of the Republic of Korea, an office he held until 1960. "Francesca Rhee" was from 1948 to 1960 the first First Lady of South Korea. She appeared at her husband's side in almost all public functions.
When the Rhees were forced into exile in 1960, they settled in Hawaii. Donner cared for her husband after he suffered a stroke and until his death on July 19, 1965. She then returned to Austria.
After five years of residence in Austria, which she had left more than 30 years earlier, Donner returned to Korea in 1970. She lived from 1970 to 1992 in Seoul, specifically in the Ihwajang, the former home of President Rhee, together with their adoptive son, Rhee In-soo (Yi In-su 이인수) and his family. She died in 1992 in Seoul.
Spelling of her name
According to birth documents, she was born Franziska Donner. She later used the spelling Franzeska Donner (even in official documents). Otherwise, the most common spelling of her name was the Italian form, Francesca. This version is used in all of her Korean documents (including her passport).Although women in South Korea generally do not take their husband's family name, Franziska's name sometimes appeared as "Francesca Rhee."
See also
- First Lady of South KoreaFirst Lady of South KoreaThe First Lady of South Korea is the wife of the President of South Korea. During the administration of President Park Chung-hee, his daughter, Park Geun-hye, assumed the duties of First Lady after her mother, Yuk Young-soo, was assassinated.-List:...