Background Petticoat affair

senator , secretary of war john eaton, husband of peggy o neill eaton



peggy o neill eaton, in later life

margaret peggy o neill daughter of william o neill, owner of franklin house, boarding house , bar in washington, d.c. short distance presidential mansion, making popular social center politicians , military officials. margaret well-educated; studied french , known ability play piano. william t. barry, later served postmaster general, wrote of charming little girl... plays piano, , entertains agreeable songs. young girl, reputation under scrutiny because worked in bar frequented men , casually bantered boardinghouse clientele. elderly margaret reminisced that, while still in pantalets , rolling hoops other girls had attention of men, young , old, enough turn girl s head.

after father intervened prevent elopement army officer, in 1816 17-year old peggy married john b. timberlake, purser in united states navy. timberlake, 39, had reputation drunkard, , heavily in debt @ time of marriage. timberlakes became friendly john eaton in 1818; eaton wealthy 28-year-old widower, newly elected u.s. senator tennessee (despite not yet having reached constitutionally-mandated minimum age of 30), , long time friend of future president andrew jackson. after timberlake told eaton financial problems, eaton unsuccessfully attempted senate pass legislation authorizing payment of debts timberlake accrued while in navy. eventually, eaton paid timberlake s debts , procured him lucrative posting u.s. navy s mediterranean squadron; rumormongers said eaton aided timberlake way remove him washington eaton socialize peggy. while mediterranean squadron, timberlake died in 1828; rumors in washington suggested killed himself result of eaton s supposed affair peggy. (medical examiners concluded timberlake died of pneumonia brought on pulmonary disease.)