Elizabeth Sherman Cameron was the niece of Gen. William T. Sherman & Sen. John Sherman, second wife of J. Donald Cameron, mother of Martha Cameron Lindsay and mother-in-law of Sir Ronald Lindsay, all who are buried under this gravestone.
Elizabeth Cameron was considered one of the most beautiful and intelligent woman in Washington society in the late 1870s & early 1880s. Friend to presidents, senators, and congressman, as well as many well-known literary and artistic figures of her era, such as Henry & Clover Adams, Edith Wharton, Trumbull Stickney, and Cecil Spring Rice. She captured the hearts and minds of most men who met her and lived a life at the apex of 19th century American & European high society.
Lizzie married Senator James Donald Cameron (son of Simon Cameron) in 1878 in Cleveland, Ohio, under protest, as the marriage was mainly a political one. Cameron was 22 years her senior. They had a daughter, Martha, whom Elizabeth idolized and whom James fairly ignored. Estranged from her husband, Elizabeth (with Martha) lived most of her years in Europe. Martha married Ronald Lindsay, son of Sir James Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres. Sir Ronald was a career diplomat who eventually became British Ambassador to the U.S., 1930-39.
Elizabeth is also known for what some believe was a forty-year relationship with Henry Adams, grandson of John Quincy Adams and great-grandson of John Adams. Fort his story, see Arlene Tehan's book Henry Adams in Love, the Pursuit of Elizabeth Cameron. Find a Grave
