From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
First Lady of the
United States
Incumbent
Michelle Obama
since January 20, 2009
StyleMrs. Obama
Residence White House
Inaugural holder Martha Washington
FormationApril 30, 1789
Website First Ladies

The First Lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the President of the United States, but, on occasion, the title has been applied to women who were not presidents’ wives, such as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the First Lady herself. The First Lady is not an elected position; it carries no official duties and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. Traditionally, the First Lady does not hold outside employment while occupying the office. [1] She has her own staff, including the White House Social Secretary, the Chief of Staff, the Press Secretary, the Chief Floral Designer, and the Executive Chef. The Office of the First Lady is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House, and is a branch of the Executive Office of the President.

According to the White House and the National First Ladies' Library, there have been 45 First Ladies and 46 First Ladyships. This discrepancy exists because Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is counted chronologically as both the 22nd and the 24th president; his wife Frances Folsom Cleveland is also counted twice. Following Barack Obama's first inauguration on January 20, 2009, his wife, Michelle Obama, became the 46th official First Lady, succeeding Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush.

There are four living former First Ladies: Rosalynn Carter, wife of Jimmy Carter; Barbara Bush, wife of George H. W. Bush; Hillary Clinton, wife of Bill Clinton; and Laura Bush, wife of George W. Bush. The first First Lady was Martha Washington, married to George Washington. Presidents John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson had two official First Ladies; both remarried during their presidential tenures. The wives of four Presidents died before their husbands were sworn into office but are still considered First Ladies by the White House and National First Ladies' Library: Martha Jefferson, wife of Thomas Jefferson; [2] [3] Rachel Jackson, wife of Andrew Jackson; [4] [5] Hannah Van Buren, wife of Martin Van Buren; [6] [7] and Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, wife of Chester A. Arthur. [8] [9] One woman who was not married to a President but who is still considered an official First Lady: Harriet Lane, niece of bachelor James Buchanan. The other non-spousal relatives who served as White House hostesses are not recognized by the First Ladies' Library.

In 2007, the United States Mint began releasing a set of half-ounce $10 gold coins under the First Spouse Program with engravings of portraits of the First Ladies on the obverse. [10] When a President served without a spouse, a gold coin is issued that bears an obverse image emblematic of Liberty as depicted on a circulating coin of that era and a reverse image emblematic of themes of that President's life. This is true for the coins for Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren and James Buchanan's First Ladies, but not the coin for Chester A. Arthur's First Lady, which will instead depict suffragette Alice Paul. [11]

List of First Ladies

This list included all persons who served as First Ladies, regardless of whether they were married to the incumbent President or not, as well as persons who are officially considered First Ladies by the First Ladies' Library but who died before being able to serve in that role. First Ladies who were not married to the incumbent appear in light gray boxes, while official First Ladies who did not serve in that role appear in dark gray boxes. The numbering follows the First Ladies' Library listing, which includes presidents' wives who predeceased their husband's entering office. First Ladies not recognized by First Ladies' Library listing are marked with a †, and First Ladies officially recognized by the First Ladies' Library listing who never served in that capacity are marked with a ‡.

No.
Image
First Lady
Birth Marriage
President
(Husband, unless noted)
Tenure began
Age at tenure start Tenure ended Length of retirement
Death Lifespan
01.01 Portrait of Martha Washington Washington, Martha Custis Martha Washington
( née Dandridge) [12] [13]
1731-06-02(1731-06-02)June 2, 1731 6 January 1759 Washington, George George Washington 1789 157 years, 332 days 1797 019041,904 days 1802-05-22(1802-05-22)May 22, 1802 25,921 days (70 years, 354 days)
02.02 Portrait painting of Abigail Adams Adams, Abigail Abigail Adams
(née Smith) [14] [15]
1744-11-11(1744-11-11)November 11, 1744 25 October 1764 Adams, John John Adams 1797 152 years, 113 days 1801 064476,447 days 1818-10-28(1818-10-28)October 28, 1818 27,013 days (73 years, 351 days)
03.03 Silhouette of Martha Jefferson Jefferson, Martha Skelton Martha Skelton Jefferson
[2] [3]
(née Wayles)
1748-10-30(1748-10-30)October 30, 1748 1 January 1772 Jefferson, Thomas Thomas Jefferson -1 1782-09-06(1782-09-06)September 6, 1782 12,364 days (33 years, 311 days)
03.1 Portrait painting of Martha Jefferson Randolph, Martha Jefferson Martha Jefferson Randolph
[2] [3]
1772-09-27(1772-09-27)September 27, 1772
[n 1]
Jefferson, Thomas Thomas Jefferson*
(Father)
1801 128 years, 158 days 1809 1008210,082 days 1836-10-10(1836-10-10)October 10, 1836 23,388 days (64 years, 13 days)
04.04 Portrait painting of Dolley Madison Madison, Dolley Todd Dolley Madison
(née Payne) [16] [17]
1768-05-20(1768-05-20)May 20, 1768 14 September 1794 Madison, James James Madison 1809 140 years, 288 days 1817 1181811,818 days 1849-07-12(1849-07-12)July 12, 1849 29,637 days (81 years, 53 days)
05.05 Portrait painting of Elizabeth Monroe Monroe, Elizabeth Elizabeth Monroe
(née Kortright) [18] [19]
1768-06-30(1768-06-30)June 30, 1768 16 February 1786 Monroe, James James Monroe 1817 148 years, 247 days 1825 020292,029 days 1830-09-23(1830-09-23)September 23, 1830 22,729 days (62 years, 85 days)
06.06 Portrait engraving of Louisa Adams Adams, Louisa Catherine Louisa Catherine Adams
(née Johnson) [20] [21]
1775-02-12(1775-02-12)February 12, 1775 26 July 1797 Adams, John Quincy John Quincy Adams 1825 150 years, 20 days 1829 099349,934 days 1852-05-15(1852-05-15)May 15, 1852 28,216 days (77 years, 93 days)
07.07 Rachel Jackson Jackson, Rachel Robards Rachel Robards Jackson
[4] [5]
(née Donelson)
1767-06-15(1767-06-15)June 15, 1767 7 January 1794 Jackson, Andrew Andrew Jackson -1 1828-12-22(1828-12-22)December 22, 1828 22,501 days (61 years, 221 days)
07.1 Portrait painting of Emily Donelson Donelson, Emily Emily Donelson
[4] [5]
1807-06-01(1807-06-01)June 1, 1807
[n 2]
Jackson, Andrew Andrew Jackson
(Uncle)
1829 121 years, 276 days 1836 00000 1836-12-19(1836-12-19)December 19, 1836 10,794 days (29 years, 201 days)
07.2 Jackson, Sarah Yorke Sarah Jackson
(née Yorke) [4] [5]
1803-07-16(1803-07-16)July 16, 1803
[n 3]
Jackson, Andrew Andrew Jackson
(Father-in-law)
1834 131 years, 133 days 1837 1843418,434 days 1887-08-23(1887-08-23)August 23, 1887 30,719 days (84 years, 38 days)
08.08 Portrait painting of Hannah Van Buren Van Buren, Hannah Hannah Van Buren
[6] [7]
(née Hoes)
1783-03-08(1783-03-08)March 8, 1783 21 February 1807 Van Buren, Martin Martin Van Buren -1 1819-02-05(1819-02-05)February 5, 1819 13,117 days (35 years, 334 days)
08.1 Portrait painting of Angelica Singleton Van Buren Van Buren, Angelica Singleton Angelica Van Buren
(née Singleton) [6] [7]

1818-02-13(1818-02-13)February 13, 1818
[n 4]
Van Buren, Martin Martin Van Buren
(Father-in-law)
1839 120 years, 322 days 1841 1344913,449 days 1877-12-29(1877-12-29)December 29, 1877 21,869 days (59 years, 319 days)
09.09 Portrait painting of Anna Harrison Harrison, Anna Anna Harrison
(née Symmes) [22] [23]
1775-07-25(1775-07-25)July 25, 1775 22 November 1795 Harrison, William Henry William Henry Harrison 1841 [n 5] 165 years, 222 days 1841 083628,362 days 1864-02-25(1864-02-25)February 25, 1864 32,356 days (88 years, 215 days)
10 Portrait painting of Letitia Tyler Tyler, Letitia Letitia Tyler
(née Christian) [24] [25]
1790-11-12(1790-11-12)November 12, 1790 29 March 1813 Tyler, John John Tyler 1841 150 years, 143 days 1842 00000 1842-09-10(1842-09-10)September 10, 1842 18,929 days (51 years, 302 days)
10.1 Tyler, Priscilla Cooper Priscilla Tyler
(née Cooper) [24] [25]
1816-06-14(1816-06-14)June 14, 1816
[n 6]
Tyler, John John Tyler
(Father-in-law)
1842 126 years, 88 days 1844 1662216,622 days 1889-12-29(1889-12-29)December 29, 1889 26,861 days (73 years, 198 days)
11 Portrait painting of Julia Tyler Tyler, Julia Julia Tyler
(née Gardiner) [26] [27]
1820-05-17(1820-05-17)May 17, 1820 26 June 1844 Tyler, John John Tyler 1844 [n 7] 124 years, 53 days 1845 1619916,199 days 1889-07-10(1889-07-10)July 10, 1889 25,269 days (69 years, 54 days)
12 Portrait painting of Sarah Polk Polk, Sarah Sarah Polk
(née Childress) [28] [29]
1803-09-04(1803-09-04)September 4, 1803 1 January 1824 Polk, James K. James K. Polk 1845 141 years, 181 days 1849 1550315,503 days 1891-08-14(1891-08-14)August 14, 1891 32,121 days (87 years, 344 days)
13 Portrait painting of Margaret Taylor Taylor, Margaret Margaret Taylor
(née Smith) [30] [31]
1788-09-21(1788-09-21)September 21, 1788 21 June 1810 Taylor, Zachary Zachary Taylor 1849 160 years, 164 days 1850 00767767 days 1852-08-14(1852-08-14)August 14, 1852 23,337 days (63 years, 328 days)
14 Portrait painting of Abigail Fillmore Fillmore, Abigail Abigail Fillmore
(née Powers) [32] [33]
1798-03-13(1798-03-13)March 13, 1798 5 February 1826 Fillmore, Millard Millard Fillmore 1850 152 years, 118 days 1853 0002626 days 1853-03-30(1853-03-30)March 30, 1853 20,105 days (55 years, 17 days)
15 Engraving of Jane Pierce Pierce, Jane Jane Means Pierce
(née Appleton) [34] [35]
1806-03-12(1806-03-12)March 12, 1806 19 November 1834 Pierce, Franklin Franklin Pierce 1853 146 years, 357 days 1857 024642,464 days 1863-12-02(1863-12-02)December 2, 1863 21,084 days (57 years, 265 days)
16 Portrait photograph of Harriet Lane Lane, Harriet Harriet Lane
(later Johnston) [36] [37]
1830-05-09(1830-05-09)May 9, 1830
[n 8]
Buchanan, James James Buchanan
(Uncle)
1857 126 years, 299 days 1861 1546015,460 days 1903-07-03(1903-07-03)July 3, 1903 26,717 days (73 years, 55 days)
17 Portrait photograph of Mary Lincoln Lincoln, Mary Todd Mary Lincoln
(née Todd) [38] [39]
1818-12-13(1818-12-13)December 13, 1818 4 November 1842 Lincoln, Abraham Abraham Lincoln 1861 142 years, 81 days 1865 063016,301 days 1882-07-16(1882-07-16)July 16, 1882 23,226 days (63 years, 215 days)
18 Portrait engraving of Eliza Johnson Johnson, Eliza Eliza Johnson
(née McCardle) [40] [41]
1810-10-04(1810-10-04)October 4, 1810 17 May 1827 Johnson, Andrew Andrew Johnson 1865 154 years, 193 days 1869 025082,508 days 1876-01-15(1876-01-15)January 15, 1876 23,844 days (65 years, 103 days)
19 Portrait photograph of Julia Grant Grant, Julia Boggs Julia Boggs Grant
(née Dent) [42] [43]
1826-01-26(1826-01-26)January 26, 1826 22 August 1848 Grant, Ulysses S. Ulysses S. Grant 1869 143 years, 37 days 1877 094159,415 days 1902-12-14(1902-12-14)December 14, 1902 28,080 days (76 years, 322 days)
20 Portrait photograph of Lucy Hayes Hayes, Lucy Ware Lucy Hayes
(née Webb) [44] [45]
1831-08-28(1831-08-28)August 28, 1831 30 December 1852 Hayes, Rutherford B. Rutherford B. Hayes 1877 145 years, 188 days 1881 030353,035 days 1889-06-25(1889-06-25)June 25, 1889 21,121 days (57 years, 301 days)
21 Portrait photograph of Lucretia Garfield Garfield, Lucretia Lucretia Garfield
(née Rudolph) [46] [47]
1832-04-19(1832-04-19)April 19, 1832 11 November 1858 Garfield, James A. James A. Garfield 1881 148 years, 319 days 1881 1332413,324 days 1918-03-14(1918-03-14)March 14, 1918 31,374 days (85 years, 329 days)
22 Portrait of Ellen Arthur Arthur, Ellen Ellen Arthur [8] [9]
(née Herndon)
1837-08-30(1837-08-30)August 30, 1837 25 October 1859 Arthur, Chester A. Chester A. Arthur -1 1880-01-12(1880-01-12)January 12, 1880 15,475 days (42 years, 135 days)
22.1 Portrait of Mary Arthur McElroy McElroy, Mary Arthur Mary McElroy
(née Arthur) [8] [9]
1841-07-05(1841-07-05)July 5, 1841
[n 9]
Arthur, Chester A. Chester A. Arthur
(Brother)
1881 140 years, 76 days 1885 1163211,632 days 1917-01-08(1917-01-08)January 8, 1917 27,580 days (75 years, 187 days)
22.9 Portrait of Rose Cleveland Cleveland, Rose Rose Cleveland
[48] [49]

1846-06-13(1846-06-13)June 13, 1846
[n 10]
Cleveland, Grover Grover Cleveland
(Brother)
1885 138 years, 264 days 1886 1186011,860 days 1918-11-22(1918-11-22)November 22, 1918 26,459 days (72 years, 162 days)
23 Portrait of Frances Cleveland Cleveland, Frances Clara Frances Cleveland
(née Folsom, later Preston) [48] [49]
1864-07-21(1864-07-21)July 21, 1864 2 June 1886 Cleveland, Grover Grover Cleveland 1886 121 years, 316 days 1889 014611,461 days 1947-10-29(1947-10-29)October 29, 1947 30,414 days (83 years, 100 days)
24 Portrait of Caroline Harrison Harrison, Caroline Lavinia Caroline Harrison
(née Scott) [50] [51]
1832-10-01(1832-10-01)October 1, 1832 20 October 1853 Harrison, Benjamin Benjamin Harrison 1889 156 years, 154 days 1892 00000 1892-10-25(1892-10-25)October 25, 1892 21,939 days (60 years, 24 days)
24.1 Portrait of Mary Harrison McKee McKee, Mary Harrison Mary McKee
(née Harrison) [50] [51]
1858-04-03(1858-04-03)April 3, 1858
[n 11]
Harrison, Benjamin Benjamin Harrison
(Father)
1892 134 years, 205 days 1893 1375113,751 days 1930-10-28(1930-10-28)October 28, 1930 26,505 days (72 years, 208 days)
25 Portrait of Frances Cleveland Cleveland, Frances Clara Frances Cleveland
(née Folsom, later Preston) [48] [49]
1864-07-21(1864-07-21)July 21, 1864 2 June 1886 Cleveland, Grover Grover Cleveland 1893 128 years, 226 days 1897 1850018,500 days 1947-10-29(1947-10-29)October 29, 1947 30,414 days (83 years, 100 days)
26 Portrait of Ida McKinley McKinley, Ida Ida McKinley
(née Saxton) [52] [53]
1847-06-08(1847-06-08)June 8, 1847 25 January 1871 McKinley, William William McKinley 1897 149 years, 269 days 1901 020802,080 days 1907-05-26(1907-05-26)May 26, 1907 21,901 days (59 years, 352 days)
27 Portrait of Edith Roosevelt Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Edith Kermit Roosevelt
(née Carow ) [54] [55]
1861-08-06(1861-08-06)August 6, 1861 2 December 1886 Roosevelt, Theodore Theodore Roosevelt 1901 140 years, 39 days 1909 1445514,455 days 1948-09-30(1948-09-30)September 30, 1948 31,831 days (87 years, 55 days)
28 Taft, Helen Louise Herron Helen Louise Taft
(née Herron) [56] [57]
1861-06-02(1861-06-02)June 2, 1861 19 June 1886 Taft, William Howard William Howard Taft 1909 147 years, 275 days 1913 1103611,036 days 1943-05-22(1943-05-22)May 22, 1943 29,938 days (81 years, 354 days)
29 Portrait of Ellen Wilson Wilson, Ellen Axson Ellen Wilson
(née Axson) [58] [59]
1860-05-15(1860-05-15)May 15, 1860 24 June 1885 Wilson, Thomas Woodrow Woodrow Wilson 1913 152 years, 293 days 1914 00000 1914-08-06(1914-08-06)August 6, 1914 19,805 days (54 years, 83 days)
29.1 Portrait of Margaret Woodrow Wilson Wilson, Margaret Woodrow Margaret Woodrow Wilson
[58] [59]
1886-04-16(1886-04-16)April 16, 1886
[n 12]
Wilson, Thomas Woodrow Woodrow Wilson
(Father)
1914 128 years, 112 days 1915 1028310,283 days 1944-02-12(1944-02-12)February 12, 1944 21,120 days (57 years, 302 days)
30 Portrait of Edith Wilson Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt Edith Wilson
(née Bolling, widowed Galt) [60] [61]
1872-10-15(1872-10-15)October 15, 1872 18 December 1915 Wilson, Thomas Woodrow Woodrow Wilson 1915 143 years, 64 days 1921 1490914,909 days 1961-12-28(1961-12-28)December 28, 1961 32,580 days (89 years, 74 days)
31 Portrait of Florence Harding Harding, Florence Mable deWolfe Florence Harding
(née Kling) [62] [63]
1860-08-15(1860-08-15)August 15, 1860 8 July 1891 Harding, Warren G. Warren G. Harding 1921 160 years, 201 days 1923 00477477 days 1924-11-21(1924-11-21)November 21, 1924 23,473 days (64 years, 98 days)
32 Grace Coolidge Coolidge, Grace Anna Grace Anna Coolidge
(née Goodhue) [64] [65]
1879-01-03(1879-01-03)January 3, 1879 4 October 1905 Coolidge, Calvin Calvin Coolidge 1923 144 years, 211 days 1929 1035310,353 days 1957-07-08(1957-07-08)July 8, 1957 28,675 days (78 years, 186 days)
33 Portrait of Lou Hoover Hoover, Lou Henry Lou Hoover
(née Henry) [66] [67]
1874-03-29(1874-03-29)March 29, 1874 10 February 1899 Hoover, Herbert Herbert Hoover 1929 154 years, 340 days 1933 039613,961 days 1944-01-07(1944-01-07)January 7, 1944 25,485 days (69 years, 284 days)
34 Portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
[68] [69]
1884-10-11(1884-10-11)October 11, 1884 17 March 1905 Roosevelt, Franklin D. Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933 148 years, 144 days 1945 064186,418 days 1962-11-07(1962-11-07)November 7, 1962 28,515 days (78 years, 27 days)
35 Portrait of Bess Truman Truman, Elizabeth "Bess" Virginia Elizabeth Virginia "Bess" Truman
(née Wallace) [70] [71]
1885-02-13(1885-02-13)February 13, 1885 28 June 1919 Truman, Harry S. Harry S. Truman 1945 160 years, 58 days 1953 1086310,863 days 1982-10-18(1982-10-18)October 18, 1982 35,675 days (97 years, 247 days)
36 Portrait of Mamie Eisenhower Eisenhower, Mamie Geneva Mamie Geneva Eisenhower
(née Doud) [72] [73]
1896-11-14(1896-11-14)November 14, 1896 1 July 1916 Eisenhower, Dwight D. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953 156 years, 67 days 1961 068596,859 days 1979-11-01(1979-11-01)November 1, 1979 30,301 days (82 years, 352 days)
37 Portrait Of Jaqueline Kennedy Kennedy, Jacqueline Lee Jacqueline Lee Kennedy
(née Bouvier, later Onassis) [74] [75]
1929-07-28(1929-07-28)July 28, 1929 12 September 1953 Kennedy, John F. John F. Kennedy 1961 131 years, 176 days 1963 1405111,136 days 1994-05-19(1994-05-19)May 19, 1994 23,671 days (64 years, 295 days)
38 Portrait of Lady Bird Johnson Johnson, Claudia "Lady Bird" Alta Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson
(née Taylor) [76] [77]
1912-12-22(1912-12-22)December 22, 1912 17 November 1934 Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson 1963 150 years, 335 days 1969 1405114,051 days 2007-07-11(2007-07-11)July 11, 2007 34,534 days (94 years, 201 days)
39 Portrait of Pat Nixon Nixon, Thelma "Pat" Catherine Thelma "Pat" Nixon
(née Ryan) [78] [79]
1912-03-16(1912-03-16)March 16, 1912 21 June 1940 Nixon, Richard Richard Nixon 1969 156 years, 310 days 1974 068926,892 days 1993-06-22(1993-06-22)June 22, 1993 29,683 days (81 years, 98 days)
40 Portrait of Betty Ford Ford, Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Warren Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Ford
(née Bloomer) [80] [81]
1918-04-08(1918-04-08)April 8, 1918 15 October 1948 Ford, Gerald Rudolph Gerald Ford 1974 156 years, 123 days 1977 1258712,587 days 2011-07-08(2011-07-08)July 8, 2011 34,059 days (93 years, 91 days)
41 Portrait of Rosalynn Carter Carter, Eleanor Rosalynn Eleanor Rosalynn Carter
(née Smith) [82] [83]
1927-08-18(1927-08-18)August 18, 1927 7 July 1946 Carter, Jimmmy Jimmy Carter 1977 149 years, 155 days 1981 1143715,80315,643 days 2023-11-19(2023-11-19)November 19, 2023 35,157 days (96 years, 93 days)
42 Portrait of Nancy Reagan Reagan, Nancy Davis Nancy Reagan
(née Robbins, adopted Davis) [84] [85]
1921-07-06(1921-07-06)July 6, 1921 4 March 1952 Reagan, Ronald Ronald Reagan 1981 159 years, 203 days 1989 0851512,8769,902 days 2016-03-06(2016-03-06)March 6, 2016 34,577 days (94 years, 244 days)
43 Portrait of Barbara Bush Bush, Barbara Barbara Bush
(née Pierce) [86] [87]
1925-06-08(1925-06-08)June 8, 1925 6 January 1945 Bush, George H. W. George H. W. Bush 1989 163 years, 226 days 1993 0705411,4208,854 days 2017-04-18(2017-04-18)April 18, 2017 33,552 days (91 years, 314 days)
44 Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton Clinton, Hillary Diane Rodham Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton
[88] [89]
1947-10-26(1947-10-26)October 26, 1947 11 October 1975 Clinton, Bill Bill Clinton 1993 145 years, 86 days 2001 041328,4988,498 days 2024-04-27 27,943 days (76 years, 184 days)
45 Portrait of Laura Bush Bush, Laura Lane Welch Laura Lane Bush
(née Welch) [90] [91]
1946-11-04(1946-11-04)November 4, 1946 5 November 1977 Bush, George W. George W. Bush 2001 154 years, 77 days 2009 012105,5765,576 days 2024-04-27 28,299 days (77 years, 175 days)
46 Portrait of Michelle Obama Obama, Michelle LaVaughn Michelle LaVaughn Obama
(née Robinson) [92] [93]
1964-01-17(1964-01-17)January 17, 1964 3 October 1992 [94] Obama, Barack Barack Obama 2009 145 years, 3 days 2017 012105,5762,654 days 2024-04-27 22,016 days (60 years, 101 days)

Living former First Ladies

There are four living former American First Ladies:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson died in 1782, nineteen years before Thomas Jefferson became President. Their daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph assumed the role of White House hostess and unofficial First Lady during his incumbency; when she was unavailable Jefferson called upon Dolley Madison, wife of his Secretary of State, James Madison. [2] [3]
  2. ^ Rachel Jackson died in December, 1828, three months before Andrew Jackson became President. His niece, Emily Donelson, assumed the role of White House hostess until her death on December 19, 1836. Jackson's daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke Jackson, was also brought into the White House to serve as White House hostess on November 26, 1834. She remained at the White House until Jackson's term expired on March 4, 1837. [4] [5]
  3. ^ Jackson's daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke Jackson, was brought into the White House to serve as White House hostess alongside the widowed President's niece Emily Donelson. Jackson's term expired on March 4, 1837. [4] [5]
  4. ^ Hannah Van Buren died on February 5, 1819, eighteen years before Martin Van Buren became President. Angelica Singleton Van Buren, Martin's daughter-in-law, assumed the role of White House hostess during his incumbency. [6] [7]
  5. ^ Anna Harrison, President William Henry Harrison's wife, was too sick to travel with William to Washington D.C. for his inauguration, and asked their daughter-in-law Jane Irwin Harrison to accompany him and act as hostess until her proposed arrival in May. William Harrison died after serving only 31 days in office, and Anna never made the trip to the White House. [22] [23]
  6. ^ Letitia Tyler died while her husband, John Tyler, was still in office. Their daughter-in-law, Priscilla Cooper Tyler acted as White House hostess until John Tyler remarried on June 26, 1844. [24] [25]
  7. ^ Julia Tyler married John Tyler on June 26, 1844. [26] [27]
  8. ^ James Buchanan was a life-long bachelor. His niece Harriet Lane served as First Lady. [36] [37]
  9. ^ Ellen Arthur died in 1880. When Chester A. Arthur became President after James A. Garfield died, he asked his sister, Mary Arthur McElroy to be the White House hostess. [8] [9]
  10. ^ Grover Cleveland entered office as a bachelor. His sister Rose Cleveland served as White House hostess until he married Frances Cornelia Folsom on June 2, 1886. [48] [49]
  11. ^ Caroline Harrison died while her husband, Benjamin Harrison, was still in office. Their daughter Mary Harrison McKee acted as White House hostess for the remainder of his incumbency. [50] [51]
  12. ^ Ellen Wilson died on August 6, 1914, while her husband, Woodrow Wilson, was still in office. Their daughter Margaret Woodrow Wilson acted as White House hostess until President Wilson remarried on December 18, 1915. [58] [59]

References

  1. ^ Caroli, Betty Boyd (2003). First Ladies from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. Oxford University Press. p. 200.
  2. ^ a b c d "Biography of Martha Jefferson". Washington, D.C.: The White House. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "First Lady Biography: Martha Jefferson". Canton, Ohio: National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Biography of Rachel Jackson". Washington, D.C.: The White House. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "First Lady Biography: Rachel Jackson". Canton, Ohio: National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved March 11, 2010. Cite error: The named reference "NFLL-RachelJack" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d "Biography of Hannah Van Buren". Washington, D.C.: The White House. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d "First Lady Biography: Hannah Van Buren". Canton, Ohio: National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved March 11, 2010. Cite error: The named reference "NFLL-Hannahvan" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d "Biography of Ellen Arthur". Washington, D.C.: The White House. Retrieved January 20, 2009. Cite error: The named reference "WH-EllenArt" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c d "First Lady Biography: Ellen Arthur". Canton, Ohio: National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  10. ^ "The First Spouse Gold Coins". United States Mint. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
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