Who is Theodosia Burr?
Theodosia Burr Alston was born in Albany, New York, in 1783. The only daughter of former US vice-president Aaron Burr, Theodosia Burr spent most of her childhood under the close supervision of her father, who was intent on giving her a superior education. While most young girls of the time studied only music and French, Theodosia Burr also took arithmetic, economics, and Latin. After her mother died, Theodosia Burr became the official hostess at the stately family home in Greenwich Village. By the age of 14, she was organizing dinners for heads of state, bishops, and the New York City elite. She became well-known as “the child prodigy” of the Burr family. In 1801, Theodosia Burr married Joseph Alston, a wealthy plantation owner. She moved to South Carolina, where her husband had recently been appointed as governor. The marriage provided a huge financial relief for Aaron Burr, who was going through some rough times, and a social outlet for Theodosia, who became a staple in South Carolin