Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884, in Manhattan, New York City,. She came from a wealthy and socially prominent family and was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1905, she married her fifth cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The couple had six children.
Eleanor Roosevelt (as she preferred to be addressed) served as the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms as President. She transformed the role of First Lady, becoming an advocate for various social and political causes, including civil rights, women’s rights, and human rights, including racial justice.
Eleanor played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. She also supported various New Deal programs during her husband’s presidency, working to improve the lives of Americans during the Great Depression.
After Franklin’s death in 1945, Eleanor continued her work as a human rights advocate and diplomat. She served as the United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed her as the first chair of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women.
Eleanor Roosevelt is widely regarded as one of the most influential and admired women in American history. She received numerous awards and honors for her humanitarian work. Her writings, including her newspaper columns and books, continue to be celebrated for their insight and social commentary. Eleanor Roosevelt passed away on November 7, 1962, in New York City, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a champion for social justice and human rights. Her approach to life was so eloquently expressed in her assertion, “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
