Eleanor Sherman Thackara

Eleanor Mary Sherman Thackara (1859 - 1915), is most known as the daughter of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of American Civil War fame and his wife, Ellen Ewing Sherman. Known as “Ellie” in the correspondence between her and her father, she was one of eight children, but little is known about her childhood. [Polites, Bente. “‘My Darling Papa’: William Tecumseh Sherman in Falvey’s Special Collections. Compass 1:1, March 2005. [http://newsletter.library.villanova.edu/10 Compass: Falvey Memorial Library Newsletter ] at newsletter.library.villanova.edu] In 1879 and at the age of 20, Eleanor met Alexander Montgomery Thackara in Washington, D. C. The two began a courtship that lasted only a year before their marriage on May 5th, 1880. [Polites.]

In 1881, the Lt. Thackara left military service, moving to Philadelphia with Eleanor to join the family business. While there, the couple spent three years in the town of Rosemont where Eleanor gave birth to four children, Alexander Montgomery “Mont”, William Sherman “Sherman”, Elizabeth, and Eleanor. [Polites.] Eleanor was also mentioned in the "New York Evangelist" as an upcoming writer as she weighed in on the idea of training schools in Philadelphia, but little else is known about her career in writing. [New York Evangelist (1830-1902); Jun 26, 1890; 61, 26; APS Onlinepg. 8]

In 1897, Thackara was appointed by President William McKinley to serve as US Consul in Le Havre, France, moving the entire family overseas. While living in France, Eleanor’s reputation for philanthropy began to grow as she served with the Red Cross in Paris, even receiving awards for her work in the organization. [Mrs. A.M. Thackara Dead.” New York Times (1857-Current file); July 19, 1915; Proquest Historical Newspapers, The New York Times (1851-2003), page 9.] In 1905, Thackara was re-stationed as Consul General in Berlin and Eleanor’s reputation was rewarded by being elected President of the American Women’s Club, a premier social organization. Interestingly, the election seemed a rebuff to previously appointed Mrs. Hill, wife of Ambassador David Jayne Hill, as the presidency generally went to the wife of an ambassador, which Eleanor was not. [Mrs. A.M. Thackara Dead.” New York Times (1857-Current file); July 19, 1915; Proquest Historical Newspapers, The New York Times (1851-2003), page 9.] In 1913, Eleanor and Thackara returned to Paris when President Woodrow Wilson appointed the Lieutenant as Consul General once again. [Mrs. A.M. Thackara Dead.” New York Times (1857-Current file); July 19, 1915; Proquest Historical Newspapers, The New York Times (1851-2003), page 9. ] However, Eleanor’s return to Paris was brief as she passed only two years after their return.

Eleanor Sherman Thackara died on July 18th, 1915. She was survived by her four children and her husband Alexander. [Polites.]

Notes

External links

* [http://digital.library.villanova.edu/Sherman%20Thackara%20Collection/ Sherman-Thackara Collection at Villanova University]