John B. Timberlake
Encyclopedia
John B. Timberlake was a protagonist in the American political scandal known as the Petticoat affair
. His wife Peggy O'Neill Timberlake was said to have had an affair with John Eaton, who became Secretary of War in President Andrew Jackson
's cabinet. The scandal brought about the resignation of most members of Jackson's cabinet.
in the United States Navy
. During his initial service in the military, he fell into massive debt. In 1816, when he was 39 years old, he married Peggy O'Neill
, who was 17. They moved into a house in Washington, D.C.
provided by her father, across the street from his hotel and tavern called the Franklin House.
In 1818, the couple met the widowed United States Senator
, John Eaton, then aged 28. Peggy was then 19 years old. John Eaton, recently elected and the youngest U.S. Senator, stayed at Franklin House.
Timberlake and Eaton became fast friends, and Timberlake confessed his financial problems. Eaton introduced a petition to the United States Senate to relieve Timberlake of debts collected while he was in service to the Navy. The Senate failed to act on his request and Timberlake slipped deeper into debt. He returned to the Navy, leaving his wife and their daughter, Mary Virginia Timberlake, behind in Washington. He returned for short periodic visits between voyages. In 1825 he fathered another daughter, Margret Rosa Timberlake.
Timberlake left for a four-year voyage on the . During his long absence, Peggy was said to have suffered a miscarriage, from a pregnancy that could only have resulted from another man. Although it was later rumored that he committed suicide, Timberlake died of pneumonia while on board ship in the Mediterranean Sea
at age 51. Many people believed he had heard of his wife Peggy's alleged affair with Senator John Eaton and that this had been the reason for his alleged suicide.
Soon after Timberlake's death, Peggy and Eaton married. Their action brought widespread criticism, leading to what was called the Petticoat affair
in President Andrew Jackson
's administration.
Petticoat Affair
The Petticoat affair was an 1830–1831 U.S. scandal involving members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet and their wives. Although it started over a private matter, it affected the political careers of several men and resulted in the informal "Kitchen Cabinet"...
. His wife Peggy O'Neill Timberlake was said to have had an affair with John Eaton, who became Secretary of War in President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
's cabinet. The scandal brought about the resignation of most members of Jackson's cabinet.
Background
Timberlake was a purserPurser
The purser joined the warrant officer ranks of the Royal Navy in the early fourteenth century and existed as a Naval rank until 1852. The development of the warrant officer system began in 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. During his initial service in the military, he fell into massive debt. In 1816, when he was 39 years old, he married Peggy O'Neill
Margaret O'Neill Eaton
Margaret O'Neill Eaton , better known as Peggy Eaton, was the daughter of Rhoda Howell and William O'Neale, the owner of Franklin House, a popular Washington, D.C. hotel. Peggy was noted for her beauty, wit and vivacity...
, who was 17. They moved into a house in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
provided by her father, across the street from his hotel and tavern called the Franklin House.
In 1818, the couple met the widowed United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, John Eaton, then aged 28. Peggy was then 19 years old. John Eaton, recently elected and the youngest U.S. Senator, stayed at Franklin House.
Timberlake and Eaton became fast friends, and Timberlake confessed his financial problems. Eaton introduced a petition to the United States Senate to relieve Timberlake of debts collected while he was in service to the Navy. The Senate failed to act on his request and Timberlake slipped deeper into debt. He returned to the Navy, leaving his wife and their daughter, Mary Virginia Timberlake, behind in Washington. He returned for short periodic visits between voyages. In 1825 he fathered another daughter, Margret Rosa Timberlake.
Timberlake left for a four-year voyage on the . During his long absence, Peggy was said to have suffered a miscarriage, from a pregnancy that could only have resulted from another man. Although it was later rumored that he committed suicide, Timberlake died of pneumonia while on board ship in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
at age 51. Many people believed he had heard of his wife Peggy's alleged affair with Senator John Eaton and that this had been the reason for his alleged suicide.
Soon after Timberlake's death, Peggy and Eaton married. Their action brought widespread criticism, leading to what was called the Petticoat affair
Petticoat Affair
The Petticoat affair was an 1830–1831 U.S. scandal involving members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet and their wives. Although it started over a private matter, it affected the political careers of several men and resulted in the informal "Kitchen Cabinet"...
in President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
's administration.
External links
- "The Story of Peggy Eaton", Founders of America