Morse's first wife, Lucretia, tragically died suddenly at the young age of twenty-five on February 7, 1825.
At the time of her passing, Samuel F. B. Morse was not by her side; he was away in Washington, D.C., fulfilling a significant artistic commission. He was tasked with painting the portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette, a prominent figure. The devastating news of Lucretia's death was communicated to him through a letter sent by his father. However, due to the slower communication methods prevalent in the early 19th century, Morse did not receive this sad news for several days after her death, leaving him unaware of the tragedy for a period.
