Tennessee Williams was an American playwright who wrote A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, among other works. He was married to his first wife, Vivian Leigh, from 1940 to 1949. His second marriage, to Maria St. Just, lasted from 1961 until his death in 1983. Neither marriage produced any children. Although Williams was open about his homosexuality, neither of his marriages was publicly known to be gay. In his later years, Williams had a close relationship with his partner Frank Merlo.
When did they marry?
John and Mary were married on June 6, 1595. They had first met in 1589, when Mary was just sixteen and John was twenty. They married after just a six-month courtship, and their wedding was a simple and private affair.
The newlyweds spent their first night together in a small inn near their home in London. The next morning, they set out for John's family home in the countryside. They were married for six years before John's untimely death in a hunting accident.
In the years after John's death, Mary became increasingly reclusive. She withdrew from society and spent most of her time at her estate in the countryside. She rarely left her home and when she did, it was usually to attend church.
Mary outlived John by thirty years. She died in 1635 at the age of fifty-six.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of marriage?
First recorded evidence of marriage ceremonies uniting one woman and one man dates from about 2350 B.C., in Mesopotamia. Over the next several hundred years, marriage evolved into a widespread institution embraced by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. But back then, marriage had little to do with love or with religion. The primary purpose of marriage was procreation—providing children who could help defend society and lead productive lives. In most cultures at the time, marriages were arranged between families feuding for power and wealth. As a result, marriages were often plagued by abuse and violence. Marriage also tended to be fickle: One wife might be happy while her husband is away on war campaign, but when he returns she may desert him for another man. So it was necessary for couples to have a strong emotional bond in order to withstand these hardships. Over the course of centuries, however, people began to recognize that love is also an important factor in
How did people get married in the Middle Ages?
In the Middle Ages, people got married by going to a priest or minister and asking for his permission.
What was the average age of marriage in the 19th century?
During the 19th century, the average age of marriage for women was 22 years, and the average age of marriage for men was 26 years.
How old is the institution of marriage?
The institution of marriage is now the subject of a bitter national debate. How did marriage begin and why? How old is the institution? The best available evidence suggests that it's about 4,350 years old.
What was Hank Williams's cause of death?
The results of the original autopsy indicated that Williams died of a heart attack. Author Colin Escott concluded in his book Hank Williams: The Biography that the cause of death was heart failure caused by the combination of alcohol, morphine and chloral hydrate.
