Marriage

The picture to the right is of Eleanor and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was Eleanor’s fifth cousin. They had known eachother since they were children. During he coming out parties, she would talk to FDR about her work with the poor which began to captivate his attention. Shortly after, they began seeing eachother. They were two very distinct people. FDR was handsome and light hearted while Eleanor was plain and serious. FDR’s family didn’t approve of the couple. However, the two got engaged in November of 1904 and President Roosevelt, being Eleanor’s closest male relative, agreed to give his niece away. The two got married on March 17, 1905 in the adjoining homes of Eleanor’s aunts Mrs. Henry Parish and Mrs. E. Livingston Ludlow. Eleanor was only twenty years old at the time of the marriage.
During the course of their marriage, Franklin and Eleanor had six children; all of whom are now deceased.
Children:
1. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1906-1975)
2. James Roosevelt (1907-1991)
3. Franklin Roosevelt (1909-1909)
4. Elliott Roosevelt (1910-1990)
5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. (1914-1988)
6. John Aspinwall Roosevelt (1916-1981)
During their early marriage life, Franklin and Eleanor lived in New York City and Hyde park. Their lives were controlled by Franklin’s mother Sara. When Roosevelt was elected to the state senate, they moved to Albany and away from Sara’s control. Eleanor began to attend legislative sessions and to build an interest in politics.

Eleanor, Elliott, Franklin Delano, Jr., John Aspinwall, Anna Eleanor and James in front of their home in New York.