O’Neale, Peggy (1799?-1879), was a central figure in one of the greatest disputes in the history of Washington, D.C., society. The dispute caused President Andrew Jackson to reorganize his Cabinet.
Margaret O’Neale was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of an innkeeper. According to her own account, she was born on Dec. 3, 1799. Margaret, known by the nickname Peggy, married John B. Timberlake, a navy purser. She lived at the O’Neale tavern while Timberlake was at sea. Senator John H. Eaton of Tennessee lived there in 1818, and became fond of Peggy. Andrew Jackson, who became a U.S. senator from Tennessee in 1823, met Peggy at the inn. Peggy’s husband died in 1828, and she married Senator Eaton on Jan. 1, 1829.
Eaton became secretary of war in 1829. Washington society refused to receive Peggy, because of her father’s occupation and because of gossip about her conduct with Eaton. President Jackson stood by her, despite his family’s protests. Several Cabinet members resigned, and Eaton resigned his post in 1831. Peggy died on Nov. 8, 1879.
