Peggy Eaton

Biography

Peggy Eaton (1799–1879) was a prominent Washington socialite whose marriage to John Henry Eaton, Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, became the center of a significant political controversy. Her social acceptance was contested by the wives of other cabinet members, leading to the scandal known as the Petticoat Affair, which tested the Jackson administration and highlighted the rigid social hierarchies of early 19th-century Washington society.

Despite the social ostracism she faced, Eaton remained a notable figure in American political history. Her life and the scandal surrounding her became a subject of historical study, illustrating the intersection of personal reputation, political power, and gender dynamics in the early republic.