[2] Angelica was educated at the Columbia Female Academy in South Carolina and Madame Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia for five years.

[2] She was a popular student at Madame Grelaud's and the school gave her the opportunity to meet a more diverse group of people.

[2] In the winter of 1837-38, Angelica and her sister Marion stayed in Washington, DC with United States Senator William C. Preston, a cousin of their mother Rebecca Travis Coles.

[3] In March 1838, Madison decided to play matchmaker and introduced the girls to the bachelor sons of President Martin Van Buren.

[2][6][7] After the traditional New Year's Day reception in 1840, Van Buren ceased hostess duties and went into seclusion due to pregnancy.

The survey, which has been conducted periodically since, ranks first ladies according to a cumulative score on the independent criteria of their background, value to the country, intelligence, courage, accomplishments, integrity, leadership, being their own women, public image, and value to the president.

[8] After Martin Van Buren was defeated for re-election in 1840, Angelica brought her family to Sumter, South Carolina while she was pregnant.

Angelica was enraged by the decision and attempted to intervene, but found that her political connections were unwilling to help due to the tension between factions of the Democratic party.

[3] Through these experiences, Van Buren became interested in social reform and charity work, which she dedicated herself to upon her return to the United States.