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Francesca Maria Barbara Donner (, born Franziska Donner; June 15, 1900March 19, 1992) was the inaugural
Donner and Rhee lived initially in New York and Washington, D.C., and then in Hawaii, where a large Korean expatriate community-in-exile was politically active. Donner worked in the U.S. as Rhee's secretary, particularly in the preparation of the book ''Japan Inside Out'' (1940).
After the
First Lady of South Korea
The first lady of the Republic of Korea (), commonly known as the first lady of South Korea, is the title held by the hostess of the Presidential Residence of South Korea, presidential residence, usually the wife of the president of South Korea ...
, from 1948 to 1960, as the second wife of Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee (; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965), also known by his art name Unam (), was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisiona ...
, the first president of South Korea.
Early life and education
According to birth documents, she was born Franziska Donner. She later used the spelling Franzeska Donner (even in official documents). Otherwise, the most common spelling of her name was the Italian form, Francesca. This version is used in all of her South Korean documents (including her passport). Donner was born in the municipality of Inzersdorf, a suburb of the capital Vienna which was incorporated into the City of Vienna, into the family of a soda water industrialist. She was the daughter of Franziska (Gerhartl) and Rudolf Donner. She graduated with a Ph.D. in languages from theUniversity of Vienna
The University of Vienna (, ) is a public university, public research university in Vienna, Austria. Founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365, it is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and among the largest ...
, before working at the League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
in Geneva as an interpreter and lower-level diplomat. In 1933, she met Korean politician Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee (; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965), also known by his art name Unam (), was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisiona ...
in a Geneva hotel. At the time Rhee was living in the United States and was on a visit in Geneva. He visited Donner shortly afterwards in Austria and asked to marry her. Donner followed him to the United States and the marriage took place in 1934 in New York. For both, it was their second marriage.
Career
Donner and Rhee lived initially in New York and Washington, D.C., and then in Hawaii, where a large Korean expatriate community-in-exile was politically active. Donner worked in the U.S. as Rhee's secretary, particularly in the preparation of the book ''Japan Inside Out'' (1940).
After the defeat of Japan
The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally signed on 2 September 1945, ending the war. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was incapable of conduc ...
in World War II, Rhee returned to Korea in October 1945 with the support of the U.S. government and Donner followed him there a few months later.
In March 1948, Rhee was elected first president of South Korea, an office he held until 1960. "Francesca Rhee" was from 1948 to 1960 the first First Lady of South Korea. She appeared at her husband's side in almost all public functions.
When the Rhees were forced into exile in 1960, they settled in Hawaii. Donner cared for her husband after he suffered a stroke
Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
and until his death on July 19, 1965. She then returned to Austria.
Later life and death
After five years of residence in Austria, which she had left more than 30 years earlier, Donner returned to South Korea in 1970. She lived from 1970 to 1992 in Seoul, specifically in the Ihwajang, the former home of President Rhee, together with their adopted son, and his family. Donner died on March 19, 1992, in Seoul.See also
*First Lady of South Korea
The first lady of the Republic of Korea (), commonly known as the first lady of South Korea, is the title held by the hostess of the Presidential Residence of South Korea, presidential residence, usually the wife of the president of South Korea ...
* Chiang Fang-liang
Faina Chiang Fang-liang (; born Faina Ipatyevna Vakhreva; ; ; 15 May 1916 – 15 December 2004) was the First Lady of the Republic of China on Taiwan from 1978 to 1988 as the wife of President Chiang Ching-kuo.
Early life
On 15 May 19 ...
* Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi (, ; ; born 9 December 1946) is an Indian politician. She is the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress, a big-tent liberal political party, which has governed India for most of its post-independence history. ...
* Ruth Williams Khama
Ruth Williams Khama, Lady Khama (née Williams; 9 December 1923 – 22 May 2002) was the wife of Botswana's first president Sir Seretse Khama, the Paramount Chief of its Bamangwato tribe. She served as the inaugural First Lady of Botswana from ...
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Donner, Francesca 1900 births 1992 deaths Austrian women in politics Austrian emigrants to South Korea South Korean people of Austrian descent First ladies of South Korea People from Liesing Austrian expatriates in the United States Burials at Seoul National Cemetery Foreign supporters of Korean independence Members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Syngman Rhee