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. 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, although Eleanor Roosevelt earned money writing and giving lectures, but gave most of it to charity, and Jill Biden maintained her regular job as an educator during her time in the role. The first lady has her own staff, including the White House social secretary, the first lady's chief of staff, the communications director, the White House 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.
There have been total of 54 first ladies including 44 official and 10 acting, within 47 first ladyships. This discrepancy exists because some presidents had multiple first ladies.
Following Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, his wife, Melania Trump, became the 44th official first lady. There are four living former first ladies: Hillary Clinton; Laura Bush; Michelle Obama; and Jill Biden. The most recent first lady to die was Rosalynn Carter. The first first lady was Martha 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; Rachel Jackson; Hannah Van Buren; and Nell Arthur.
One woman who was not married to a president 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. When a president served without a spouse, a gold coin was 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 instead depicts suffragette Alice Paul.
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Martha WashingtonJune 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802(aged 70)
Martha WashingtonJune 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802(aged 70)
POTUSNo.
1
Name
Martha WashingtonJune 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802(aged 70)
Tenure
April 30, 1789–March 4, 1797
Age at tenure start
57 years, 321 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
George Washingtonm. January 6, 1759
Abigail AdamsNovember 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818(aged 73)
Abigail AdamsNovember 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818(aged 73)
POTUSNo.
2
Name
Abigail AdamsNovember 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818(aged 73)
Tenure
March 4, 1797–March 4, 1801
Age at tenure start
52 years, 102 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
John Adamsm. October 25, 1764
Martha JeffersonSeptember 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836(aged 64)
Martha JeffersonSeptember 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836(aged 64)
POTUSNo.
3
Name
Martha JeffersonSeptember 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836(aged 64)
Tenure
March 4, 1801–March 4, 1809
Age at tenure start
28 years, 158 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Thomas JeffersonFather
Dolley MadisonMay 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849(aged 81)
Dolley MadisonMay 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849(aged 81)
POTUSNo.
4
Name
Dolley MadisonMay 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849(aged 81)
Tenure
March 4, 1809–March 4, 1817
Age at tenure start
40 years, 288 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
James Madisonm. September 14, 1794
Elizabeth MonroeJune 30, 1768 – September 23, 1830(aged 62)
Elizabeth MonroeJune 30, 1768 – September 23, 1830(aged 62)
POTUSNo.
5
Name
Elizabeth MonroeJune 30, 1768 – September 23, 1830(aged 62)
Tenure
March 4, 1817–March 4, 1825
Age at tenure start
48 years, 247 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
James Monroem. February 16, 1786
Louisa AdamsBirth country: Great Britain(present day United Kingdom)February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852(aged 77)
Louisa AdamsBirth country: Great Britain(present day United Kingdom)February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852(aged 77)
POTUSNo.
6
Name
Louisa AdamsBirth country: Great Britain(present day United Kingdom)February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852(aged 77)
Tenure
March 4, 1825–March 4, 1829
Age at tenure start
50 years, 20 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
John Quincy Adamsm. July 26, 1797
Emily Donelson
June 1, 1807 – December 19, 1836(aged 29)
Emily Donelson
June 1, 1807 – December 19, 1836(aged 29)
POTUSNo.
7
Name
Emily Donelson
June 1, 1807 – December 19, 1836(aged 29)
Tenure
March 4, 1829–November 26, 1834
Age at tenure start
21 years, 276 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Andrew JacksonUncle-in-law
November 26, 1834–March 4, 1837
November 26, 1834–March 4, 1837
POTUSNo.
Name
November 26, 1834–March 4, 1837
Tenure
31 years, 133 days
Age at tenure start
Andrew JacksonFather-in-law
March 4, 1837–November 27, 1838
March 4, 1837–November 27, 1838
POTUSNo.
8
Name
March 4, 1837–November 27, 1838
Tenure
Vacant
Age at tenure start
Martin Van BurenWidower
November 27, 1838–March 4, 1841
November 27, 1838–March 4, 1841
POTUSNo.
Name
November 27, 1838–March 4, 1841
Tenure
20 years, 287 days
Age at tenure start
Martin Van BurenFather-in-law
Anna HarrisonJuly 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864(aged 88)
Anna HarrisonJuly 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864(aged 88)
POTUSNo.
9
Name
Anna HarrisonJuly 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864(aged 88)
Tenure
March 4, 1841–April 4, 1841
Age at tenure start
65 years, 222 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
William Henry Harrisonm. November 25, 1795
March 4, 1841–April 4, 1841
March 4, 1841–April 4, 1841
POTUSNo.
Name
March 4, 1841–April 4, 1841
Tenure
36 years, 224 days
Age at tenure start
William Henry HarrisonFather-in-law
Letitia TylerNovember 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842(aged 51)
Letitia TylerNovember 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842(aged 51)
POTUSNo.
10
Name
Letitia TylerNovember 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842(aged 51)
Tenure
April 4, 1841–September 10, 1842†
Age at tenure start
50 years, 143 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
John Tylerm. (1813-03-29)March 29, 1813
September 10, 1842–June 26, 1844
September 10, 1842–June 26, 1844
POTUSNo.
Name
September 10, 1842–June 26, 1844
Tenure
26 years, 88 days
Age at tenure start
John TylerFather-in-law
June 26, 1844–March 4, 1845
June 26, 1844–March 4, 1845
POTUSNo.
Name
June 26, 1844–March 4, 1845
Tenure
24 years, 53 days
Age at tenure start
John Tylerm. June 26, 1844Married while president
Sarah PolkSeptember 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891(aged 87)
Sarah PolkSeptember 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891(aged 87)
POTUSNo.
11
Name
Sarah PolkSeptember 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891(aged 87)
Tenure
March 4, 1845–March 4, 1849
Age at tenure start
41 years, 181 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
James K. Polkm. January 1, 1824
Margaret "Peggy" TaylorSeptember 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852(aged 63)
Margaret "Peggy" TaylorSeptember 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852(aged 63)
POTUSNo.
12
Name
Margaret "Peggy" TaylorSeptember 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852(aged 63)
Tenure
March 4, 1849–July 9, 1850
Age at tenure start
60 years, 164 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Zachary Taylorm. June 21, 1810
Abigail FillmoreMarch 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853(aged 55)
Abigail FillmoreMarch 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853(aged 55)
POTUSNo.
13
Name
Abigail FillmoreMarch 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853(aged 55)
Tenure
July 9, 1850–March 4, 1853
Age at tenure start
52 years, 118 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Millard Fillmorem. February 5, 1826
Jane PierceMarch 12, 1806 – December 2, 1863(aged 57)
Jane PierceMarch 12, 1806 – December 2, 1863(aged 57)
POTUSNo.
14
Name
Jane PierceMarch 12, 1806 – December 2, 1863(aged 57)
Tenure
March 4, 1853–March 4, 1857
Age at tenure start
46 years, 357 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Franklin Piercem. November 19, 1834
Harriet LaneMay 9, 1830 – July 3, 1903(aged 73)
Harriet LaneMay 9, 1830 – July 3, 1903(aged 73)
POTUSNo.
15
Name
Harriet LaneMay 9, 1830 – July 3, 1903(aged 73)
Tenure
March 4, 1857–March 4, 1861
Age at tenure start
26 years, 299 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
James BuchananUncle
Mary LincolnDecember 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882(aged 63)
Mary LincolnDecember 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882(aged 63)
POTUSNo.
16
Name
Mary LincolnDecember 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882(aged 63)
Tenure
March 4, 1861–April 15, 1865
Age at tenure start
42 years, 81 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Abraham Lincolnm. November 4, 1842
Eliza JohnsonOctober 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876(aged 65)
Eliza JohnsonOctober 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876(aged 65)
POTUSNo.
17
Name
Eliza JohnsonOctober 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876(aged 65)
Tenure
April 15, 1865–March 4, 1869
Age at tenure start
54 years, 193 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Andrew Johnsonm. May 17, 1827
Julia GrantJanuary 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902(aged 76)
Julia GrantJanuary 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902(aged 76)
POTUSNo.
18
Name
Julia GrantJanuary 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902(aged 76)
Tenure
March 4, 1869–March 4, 1877
Age at tenure start
43 years, 37 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Ulysses S. Grantm. August 22, 1848
Lucy HayesAugust 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889(aged 57)
Lucy HayesAugust 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889(aged 57)
POTUSNo.
19
Name
Lucy HayesAugust 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889(aged 57)
Tenure
March 4, 1877–March 4, 1881
Age at tenure start
45 years, 188 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Rutherford B. Hayesm. December 30, 1852
Lucretia GarfieldApril 19, 1832 – March 14, 1918(aged 85)
Lucretia GarfieldApril 19, 1832 – March 14, 1918(aged 85)
POTUSNo.
20
Name
Lucretia GarfieldApril 19, 1832 – March 14, 1918(aged 85)
Tenure
March 4, 1881–September 19, 1881
Age at tenure start
48 years, 319 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
James A. Garfieldm. November 11, 1858
Mary McElroyJuly 5, 1841 – January 8, 1917(aged 75)
Mary McElroyJuly 5, 1841 – January 8, 1917(aged 75)
POTUSNo.
21
Name
Mary McElroyJuly 5, 1841 – January 8, 1917(aged 75)
Tenure
September 19, 1881–March 4, 1885
Age at tenure start
40 years, 76 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Chester A. ArthurBrother
Rose ClevelandJune 13, 1846 – November 22, 1918(aged 72)
Rose ClevelandJune 13, 1846 – November 22, 1918(aged 72)
POTUSNo.
22
Name
Rose ClevelandJune 13, 1846 – November 22, 1918(aged 72)
Tenure
March 4, 1885–June 2, 1886
Age at tenure start
38 years, 264 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Grover ClevelandBrother
June 2, 1886–March 4, 1889
June 2, 1886–March 4, 1889
POTUSNo.
Name
June 2, 1886–March 4, 1889
Tenure
21 years, 316 days
Age at tenure start
Grover Clevelandm. June 2, 1886Married while president
Caroline HarrisonOctober 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892(aged 60)
Caroline HarrisonOctober 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892(aged 60)
POTUSNo.
23
Name
Caroline HarrisonOctober 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892(aged 60)
Tenure
March 4, 1889–October 25, 1892†
Age at tenure start
56 years, 154 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Benjamin Harrisonm. October 20, 1853
October 25, 1892–March 4, 1893
October 25, 1892–March 4, 1893
POTUSNo.
Name
October 25, 1892–March 4, 1893
Tenure
34 years, 205 days
Age at tenure start
Benjamin HarrisonFather
Frances ClevelandJuly 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947(aged 83)
Frances ClevelandJuly 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947(aged 83)
POTUSNo.
24
Name
Frances ClevelandJuly 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947(aged 83)
Tenure
March 4, 1893–March 4, 1897
Age at tenure start
28 years, 226 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Grover Clevelandm. June 2, 1886Remarried 1913
Ida McKinleyJune 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907(aged 59)
Ida McKinleyJune 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907(aged 59)
POTUSNo.
25
Name
Ida McKinleyJune 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907(aged 59)
Tenure
March 4, 1897–September 14, 1901
Age at tenure start
49 years, 269 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
William McKinleym. January 25, 1871
Edith RooseveltAugust 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948(aged 87)
Edith RooseveltAugust 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948(aged 87)
POTUSNo.
26
Name
Edith RooseveltAugust 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948(aged 87)
Tenure
September 14, 1901–March 4, 1909
Age at tenure start
40 years, 39 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Theodore Rooseveltm. December 2, 1886
Helen "Nellie" TaftJune 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943(aged 81)
Helen "Nellie" TaftJune 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943(aged 81)
POTUSNo.
27
Name
Helen "Nellie" TaftJune 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943(aged 81)
Tenure
March 4, 1909–March 4, 1913
Age at tenure start
47 years, 275 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
William H. Taftm. June 19, 1886
Ellen WilsonMay 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914(aged 54)
Ellen WilsonMay 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914(aged 54)
POTUSNo.
28
Name
Ellen WilsonMay 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914(aged 54)
Tenure
March 4, 1913–August 6, 1914†
Age at tenure start
52 years, 293 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Woodrow Wilsonm. June 24, 1885
August 6, 1914–December 18, 1915
August 6, 1914–December 18, 1915
POTUSNo.
Name
August 6, 1914–December 18, 1915
Tenure
28 years, 112 days
Age at tenure start
Woodrow WilsonFather
December 18, 1915–March 4, 1921
December 18, 1915–March 4, 1921
POTUSNo.
Name
December 18, 1915–March 4, 1921
Tenure
43 years, 64 days
Age at tenure start
Woodrow Wilsonm. December 18, 1915Married while president
Florence HardingAugust 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924(aged 64)
Florence HardingAugust 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924(aged 64)
POTUSNo.
29
Name
Florence HardingAugust 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924(aged 64)
Tenure
March 4, 1921–August 2, 1923
Age at tenure start
60 years, 201 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Warren G. Hardingm. July 8, 1891
Grace CoolidgeJanuary 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957(aged 78)
Grace CoolidgeJanuary 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957(aged 78)
POTUSNo.
30
Name
Grace CoolidgeJanuary 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957(aged 78)
Tenure
August 2, 1923–March 4, 1929
Age at tenure start
44 years, 211 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Calvin Coolidgem. October 4, 1905
Lou HooverMarch 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944(aged 69)
Lou HooverMarch 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944(aged 69)
POTUSNo.
31
Name
Lou HooverMarch 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944(aged 69)
Tenure
March 4, 1929–March 4, 1933
Age at tenure start
54 years, 340 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Herbert Hooverm. February 10, 1899
Eleanor RooseveltOctober 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962(aged 78)
Eleanor RooseveltOctober 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962(aged 78)
POTUSNo.
32
Name
Eleanor RooseveltOctober 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962(aged 78)
Tenure
March 4, 1933–April 12, 1945
Age at tenure start
48 years, 144 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Franklin D. Rooseveltm. March 17, 1905
Elizabeth "Bess" TrumanFebruary 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982(aged 97)
Elizabeth "Bess" TrumanFebruary 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982(aged 97)
POTUSNo.
33
Name
Elizabeth "Bess" TrumanFebruary 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982(aged 97)
Tenure
April 12, 1945–January 20, 1953
Age at tenure start
60 years, 58 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Harry S. Trumanm. June 28, 1919
Mary "Mamie" EisenhowerNovember 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979(aged 82)
Mary "Mamie" EisenhowerNovember 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979(aged 82)
POTUSNo.
34
Name
Mary "Mamie" EisenhowerNovember 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979(aged 82)
Tenure
January 20, 1953–January 20, 1961
Age at tenure start
56 years, 67 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
Dwight D. Eisenhowerm. July 1, 1916
Jacqueline "Jackie" KennedyJuly 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994(aged 64)
Jacqueline "Jackie" KennedyJuly 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994(aged 64)
POTUSNo.
35
Name
Jacqueline "Jackie" KennedyJuly 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994(aged 64)
Tenure
January 20, 1961–November 22, 1963
Age at tenure start
31 years, 176 days
President(Husband, unless noted)
John F. Kennedym. September 12, 1953Remarried 1968
