Who was Theodore Lent?

Theodore Lent, husband of Julia Pastrana, has long been reviled for his decision to have the bodies of his wife and child embalmed for the purposes of continued display. Although it's difficult to see inside their relationship, an examination of Lent's life before he met Pastrana reveals his character. Involved in a number of different complaints, including two that involved prostitution, Lent seems to have been a man willing to do anything in order to get ahead. 

This exhibit will survey primary documents in an attempt to answer just who Lent was and how Julia ended up under his control.