Too Many First Ladies?

Though we often call Martha Washington the 1st First Lady of the United States, the term First Lady didn't come into popular use until after the Civil War.  Even then, it wasn't common.  It graduated to common use in the 1930s.  Though we have had 45 presidents, we have somehow had 53 First Ladies.  As it happened, four presidents had a change of First Lady during their presidency.  Two presidents had 3 each!

Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) had the great misfortune to become a widower while he was president-elect.  Rachel Donelson Jackson died in December 1828.

1. Emily Donelson was the daughter of Rachel's brother, making her Jackson's niece.  Her husband, Andrew Jackson Donelson, served as President Jackson's private secretary through most of his presidency.  Suffering tuberculosis, Emily left Washington.  She died from it 1836 at the age of 29.

2. Sarah Yorke Jackson was the wife of Jackson's adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr.  She performed hostess duties alongside Emily for a time before taking on the role entirely when Emily left for Tennessee.

William Henry Harrison (1841) died after one month in office but, amazingly, had two first ladies.  Sort of.

1. Anna Harrison was 65 years old, in poor health, and did not want to travel to Washington during the winter.  She would travel later.  However, in the meantime, the White House needed a hostess.

2. Jane Harrison was President Harrison's daughter-in-law, having married his son, William Henry Harrison, Jr.  She accepted the role of White House hostess until Anna should arrive.  Since Harrison died only 1 month later, she only hosted 2 events.

John Tyler (1841-1845) became president upon Harrison's death and his wife was officially First Lady.

1. Letitia Tyler had suffered a stroke in 1839 that left her in a wheelchair.  She was not able to perform the duties of a White House hostess.  She suffered another stroke while living at the White House and died in September 1842.  She was only 51.

2. Priscilla Tyler was the wife of President Tyler's son, Robert Tyler.  She had been the acting First Lady since Tyler had assumed the presidency.  She remained in the role until replaced by Julia Tyler.

3. Julia Gardiner Tyler was the daughter of a New York Senator.  Tyler had begun courting her despite a 30-year age gap.  She had declined his proposals.  However, during a trip on the USS Princeton, a new steam frigate, one of the canons exploded during a test fire.  Julia's father was killed in the blast and President Tyler carried her off the ship.  She married him soon after and became First Lady for the remainder of Tyler's presidency.

Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897) was elected as a bachelor.

1. Rose Cleveland was President Cleveland's sister.  She was a scholar by nature but accepted the position nonetheless.  She found the job boring and was only too happy to pass it on to Frances.

2. Frances Cleveland was not yet 22 years old when she married President Cleveland in 1886.  She took on the role of First Lady for the remainder of Cleveland's first term and all of his non-consecutive second term.

Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) was the grandson of William Henry Harrison.  He arrived in the White House with a wife, children, grandchildren, father-in-law, sister-in-law, and more.

1. Caroline Harrison was more concerned with domestic family issues than playing hostess for White House events.  She often delegated these duties to relatives.  She developed tuberculosis and died in October 1892.

2. Mary Harrison McKee was President Harrison's daughter.  When her mother died, she took on the role of First Lady.  As President Harrison lost re-election the following month, Mary only filled the role for 4 months before Frances Cleveland returned.

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) had been married for 27 years when he was elected.

1. Ellen Wilson had been First Lady of New Jersey one day and First Lady of the United States the next.  She suffered from Bright's Disease and died in August 1914.  During her time as First Lady, she arranged weddings for 2 of her daughters in the White House.

2. Margaret Wilson was President Wilson's eldest daughter.  She took over White House hostess duties after her mother's death.

3. Edith Wilson married President Wilson on December 18, 1915.  This was the 3rd, and most recent, time a president married while in office.  Edith Wilson exerted more control than most First Ladies on account of President Wilson suffering a stroke in October 1919.

Most First Ladies have been the president's wife, but the post has also been filled by sisters, daughters and nieces.