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,[1] although Eleanor Roosevelt earned money writing and giving lectures, but gave most of it to charity,[2] and Jill Biden has maintained her regular job as an educator during her time in the role.[3] The first lady 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.
| First Lady of the United States of America | |
|---|---|
Jill Biden since January 20, 2021 | |
| Style | Madam First Lady |
| Residence | White House |
| Inaugural holder | Martha Washington |
| Website | First Ladies |
There have been total of 54 first ladies including 43 official and 11 acting, within 46 first ladyships. This discrepancy exists because some presidents had multiple first ladies. Following Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021, his wife, Jill Biden, became the 43rd official first lady.
There are four living former first ladies: Hillary Clinton, married to Bill Clinton; Laura Bush, married to George W. Bush; Michelle Obama, married to Barack Obama; and Melania Trump, married to Donald Trump. The most recent first lady to die was Rosalynn Carter, married to Jimmy Carter. 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 Wayles Skelton, married to Thomas Jefferson;[4][5] Rachel Jackson, married to Andrew Jackson;[6][7] Hannah Van Buren, married to Martin Van Buren;[8][9] and Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, married to Chester A. Arthur.[10][11] 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.[12] 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.[13]
Living first ladies as of July 2024[update] (from oldest to youngest):
![Melania Trump (2017–2021) Born (1970-04-26)April 26, 1970 (age 54 years, 91 days)[14]](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_Records_a_Reading_of_%22The_Little_Rabbit%22_for_Easter_%2849770725846%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
This list includes 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 considered first ladies by the official White House website and the White House Historical Association. It is sorted by the name the first ladies were commonly known as.
| POTUS No. |
Portrait | Name | Tenure | Age at tenure start | President (Husband, unless noted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Martha Washington June 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802 (aged 70) [15][16] |
April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 |
57 years, 321 days | George Washington m. January 6, 1759 |
| 2 | 
|
Abigail Adams November 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818 (aged 73) [17][18] |
March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 |
52 years, 102 days | John Adams m. October 25, 1764 |
| 3 | 
|
Martha Jefferson September 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836 (aged 64) [4][5] |
March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809 |
28 years, 158 days | Thomas Jefferson Father [A] |
| 4 | 
|
Dolley Madison May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849 (aged 81) [19][20] |
March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817 |
40 years, 288 days | James Madison m. September 14, 1794 |
| 5 | 
|
Elizabeth Monroe June 30, 1768 – September 23, 1830 (aged 62) [21][22] |
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 |
48 years, 247 days | James Monroe m. February 16, 1786 |
| 6 | 
|
Louisa Adams Birth country:  Great Britain(present day  United Kingdom)February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852 (aged 77) [23][24] |
March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829 |
50 years, 20 days | John Quincy Adams m. July 26, 1797 |
| 7 | 
|
Emily Donelson
June 1, 1807 – December 19, 1836 |
March 4, 1829 – November 26, 1834 |
21 years, 276 days | Andrew Jackson Uncle-in-law |
|
Sarah Jackson
July 16, 1803 – August 23, 1887 |
November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837 |
31 years, 133 days | Andrew Jackson Father-in-law | |
| 8 | Vacant | March 4, 1837 – November 27, 1838 |
Vacant | Martin Van Buren Widower | |
|
Sarah Van Buren February 13, 1818 – December 29, 1877 (aged 59) [8][9] |
November 27, 1838 – March 4, 1841 |
20 years, 287 days | Martin Van Buren Father-in-law | |
| 9 | 
|
Anna Harrison July 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864 (aged 88) [27][28] |
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 |
65 years, 222 days | William Henry Harrison m. November 25, 1795 |
|
Jane Harrison July 23, 1804 – May 11, 1847 (aged 42) [28] |
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 |
36 years, 224 days | William Henry Harrison Father-in-law | |
| 10 | 
|
Letitia Tyler November 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842 (aged 51) [29][30] |
April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842 † |
50 years, 143 days | John Tyler m. (1813-03-29)March 29, 1813 |
|
Priscilla Tyler June 14, 1816 – December 29, 1889 (aged 73) [31] |
September 10, 1842 – June 26, 1844 |
26 years, 88 days | John Tyler Father-in-law [B] | |
|
Julia Tyler May 4, 1820 – July 10, 1889 (aged 69) [32][33] |
June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845 |
24 years, 53 days | John Tyler m. June 26, 1844 Married while president | |
| 11 | 
|
Sarah Polk September 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891 (aged 87) [34][35] |
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 |
41 years, 181 days | James K. Polk m. January 1, 1824 |
| 12 | 
|
Margaret "Peggy" Taylor September 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852 (aged 63) [36][37] |
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 |
60 years, 164 days | Zachary Taylor m. June 21, 1810 |
| 13 | 
|
Abigail Fillmore March 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853 (aged 55) [38][39] |
July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 |
52 years, 118 days | Millard Fillmore m. February 5, 1826 |
| 14 | 
|
Jane Pierce March 12, 1806 – December 2, 1863 (aged 57) [40][41] |
March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857 |
46 years, 357 days | Franklin Pierce m. November 19, 1834 |
| 15 | 
|
Harriet Lane May 9, 1830 – July 3, 1903 (aged 73) [42][43] |
March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861 |
26 years, 299 days | James Buchanan Uncle |
| 16 | 
|
Mary Lincoln December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882 (aged 63) [44][45] |
March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 |
42 years, 81 days | Abraham Lincoln m. November 4, 1842 |
| 17 | 
|
Eliza Johnson October 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876 (aged 65) [46][47] |
April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 |
54 years, 193 days | Andrew Johnson m. May 17, 1827 |
| 18 | 
|
Julia Grant January 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902 (aged 76) [48][49] |
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877 |
43 years, 37 days | Ulysses S. Grant m. August 22, 1848 |
| 19 | 
|
Lucy Hayes August 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889 (aged 57) [50][51] |
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 |
45 years, 188 days | Rutherford B. Hayes m. December 30, 1852 |
| 20 | 
|
Lucretia Garfield April 19, 1832 – March 14, 1918 (aged 85) [52][53] |
March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881 |
48 years, 319 days | James A. Garfield m. November 11, 1858 |
| 21 | 
|
Mary McElroy July 5, 1841 – January 8, 1917 (aged 75) [54] |
September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 |
40 years, 76 days | Chester A. Arthur Brother |
| 22 | 
|
Rose Cleveland June 13, 1846 – November 22, 1918 (aged 72) [55] |
March 4, 1885 – June 2, 1886 |
38 years, 264 days | Grover Cleveland Brother |
|
Frances Cleveland July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947 (aged 83) [56][57] |
June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889 |
21 years, 316 days | Grover Cleveland m. June 2, 1886 Married while president | |
| 23 | 
|
Caroline Harrison October 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892 (aged 60) [58][59] |
March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 † |
56 years, 154 days | Benjamin Harrison m. October 20, 1853 |
|
Mary Harrison McKee April 3, 1858 – October 28, 1930 (aged 72) [59] |
October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893 |
34 years, 205 days | Benjamin Harrison Father | |
| 24 |
|
Frances Cleveland July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947 (aged 83) [56][57] |
March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 |
28 years, 226 days | Grover Cleveland m. June 2, 1886 Remarried 1913 |
| 25 | 
|
Ida McKinley June 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907 (aged 59) [60][61] |
March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901 |
49 years, 269 days | William McKinley m. January 25, 1871 |
| 26 | 
|
Edith Roosevelt August 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948 (aged 87) [62][63] |
September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 |
40 years, 39 days | Theodore Roosevelt m. December 2, 1886 |
| 27 | 
|
Helen "Nellie" Taft June 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943 (aged 81) [64][65] |
March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913 |
47 years, 275 days | William H. Taft m. June 19, 1886 |
| 28 | 
|
Ellen Wilson May 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914 (aged 54) [66][67] |
March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914 † |
52 years, 293 days | Woodrow Wilson m. June 24, 1885 |
|
Margaret Wilson April 16, 1886 – February 12, 1944 (aged 57) [67][68] |
August 6, 1914 – December 18, 1915 |
28 years, 112 days | Woodrow Wilson Father | |
|
Edith Wilson October 15, 1872 – December 28, 1961 (aged 89) [69][70] |
December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921 |
43 years, 64 days | Woodrow Wilson m. December 18, 1915 Married while president | |
| 29 | 
|
Florence Harding August 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924 (aged 64) [71][72] |
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 |
60 years, 201 days | Warren G. Harding m. July 8, 1891 |
| 30 | 
|
Grace Coolidge January 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957 (aged 78) [73][74] |
August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929 |
44 years, 211 days | Calvin Coolidge m. October 4, 1905 |
| 31 | 
|
Lou Hoover March 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944 (aged 69) [75][76] |
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 |
54 years, 340 days | Herbert Hoover m. February 10, 1899 |
| 32 | 
|
Eleanor Roosevelt October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962 (aged 78) [77][78] |
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 |
48 years, 144 days | Franklin D. Roosevelt m. March 17, 1905 |
| 33 | 
|
Elizabeth "Bess" Truman February 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982 (aged 97) [79][80] |
April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953 |
60 years, 58 days | Harry S. Truman m. June 28, 1919 |
| 34 | 
|
Mamie Eisenhower November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979 (aged 82) [81][82] |
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 |
56 years, 67 days | Dwight D. Eisenhower m. July 1, 1916 |
| 35 | 
|
Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994 (aged 64) [83][84] |
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 |
31 years, 176 days | John F. Kennedy m. September 12, 1953 Remarried 1968 |
| 36 | 
|
Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007 (aged 94) [85][86] |
November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969 |
50 years, 335 days | Lyndon B. Johnson m. November 17, 1934 |
| 37 | 
|
Thelma "Pat" Nixon March 16, 1912 – June 22, 1993 (aged 81) [87][88] |
January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 |
56 years, 310 days | Richard Nixon m. June 21, 1940 |
| 38 | 
|
Elizabeth "Betty" Ford April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011 (aged 93) [89][90] |
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 |
56 years, 123 days | Gerald Ford m. October 15, 1948 |
| 39 | 
|
Rosalynn Carter August 18, 1927 – November 19, 2023 (aged 96) [91][92] |
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
49 years, 155 days | Jimmy Carter m. July 7, 1946 |
| 40 | 
|
Nancy Reagan July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016 (aged 94) [93][94] |
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 |
59 years, 203 days | Ronald Reagan m. March 4, 1952 |
| 41 | 
|
Barbara Bush June 8, 1925 – April 17, 2018 (aged 92) [95][96] |
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
63 years, 226 days | George H. W. Bush m. January 6, 1945 |
| 42 | 
|
Hillary Clinton Born (1947-10-26) October 26, 1947 (age 76) [97][98] |
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
45 years, 86 days | Bill Clinton m. October 11, 1975 |
| 43 | 
|
Laura Bush Born (1946-11-04) November 4, 1946 (age 77) [99][100] |
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
54 years, 77 days | George W. Bush m. November 5, 1977 |
| 44 | 
|
Michelle Obama Born (1964-01-17) January 17, 1964 (age 60) [101][102] |
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 |
45 years, 3 days | Barack Obama m. October 3, 1992 |
| 45 | 
|
Melania Trump Birth country:  Yugoslavia(present day  Slovenia)Born (1970-04-26) April 26, 1970 (age 54) [103][104] |
January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
46 years, 269 days | Donald Trump m. January 22, 2005 |
| 46 | 
|
Jill Biden Born (1951-06-03) June 3, 1951 (age 73) [105] |
January 20, 2021 – present |
69 years, 231 days | Joe Biden m. June 17, 1977 |
Certain spouses of presidents of the United States are not considered first ladies of the United States.
Four presidents were widowed prior to their presidencies:
Two presidents were widowed and remarried prior to their presidencies:
Two presidents were divorced and remarried prior to their presidencies:
Two presidents remarried after their presidencies:
