While this list is mainly about presidential spouses, administrations with a bachelor or widowed president have a section on the individual (usually a family member) that filled the role of First Lady.
Books Biographies of George Washington with significant information about Martha Washington Journal articles Primary sources Abigail Adams, née Smith; (born November 22, 1744 – died October 28, 1818); (in position March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801); The wife of John Adams.
Martha Jefferson died before her husband assumed the presidency, so she never served as first lady.
Since she died young (age 33) comparatively little is written about her independent of biographies of Thomas Jefferson.
[43] Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of James Madison with significant information about Dolley Madison Elizabeth Jane Monroe, née Kortright; (born June 30, 1768 – died September 23, 1830); (in position: March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825); The wife of James Monroe.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of John Quincy Adams with significant information about Louisa Adams Rachel Jackson, née Donelson; June 15, 1767 – December 22, 1828; The wife of Andrew Jackson.
She served as acting First Lady and White House host in the place of her mother, Rachel Jackson.
[n] Books Sarah Jackson, née Yorke; (born July 16, 1803 – died August 23, 1887); (in position November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837); The daughter-in-law of Andrew Jackson; she served as White House hostess and acting First Lady in the place of her mother in law.
She died before Van Buren was elected president, so never held the position of First Lady.
Acting as First Lady and White House host in her place was her daughter in law, Sarah Van Buren.
She was married to the President's son, Abraham Van Buren and served as acting First Lady and White House host in the place of her mother in law, Hannah Van Buren.
Since Harrison died less than a month into his term in office, she is the individual who spent the shortest time as First Lady.
She served the second shortest period of time as First Lady after Anna Harrison, from June 26, 1844, to March 4, 1845.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of James Polk with significant information about Sarah Polk Margaret "Peggy" Mackall Taylor, née Smith; September 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852; She was the wife of Zachary Taylor.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of Abraham Lincoln with significant content on Mary Todd Lincoln Eliza McCardle Johnson, née McCardle; October 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876; She was the wife of Andrew Johnson.
Since Cleveland entered the White House unmarried, Rose Cleveland served as acting First Lady and White House host until her brother married fourteen months into his first term.
She is the only LGBTQ individual to serve in the position of First Lady and White House hostess.
Books Primary sources For information about Helen Herron Taft, see the Bibliography of William Howard Taft Ellen Louise Axson Wilson, née Axson; May 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914; She was the first wife of Woodrow Wilson.
Books Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Mamie Geneva Eisenhower, née Doud; (born November 14, 1896 – died November 1, 1979); (in position January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961); She was the wife of Dwight Eisenhower.
Books Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis, née Bouvier; (born July 28, 1929 – died May 19, 1994); (In position January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963); She was the wife of John F. Kennedy.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, née Taylor; (born December 22, 1912 – died July 11, 2007); (in position November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969); She was the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Books Journal articles Biographies of Lyndon Johnson with significant information about Lady Bird Johnson Thelma Catherine "Pat" Nixon, née Ryan; (born March 16, 1912 – died June 22, 1993); (in position January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974); She was the wife of Richard Nixon.
Books Biographies of Richard Nixon with significant information about Pat Nixon Elizabeth Anne Ford, née Bloomer, formerly Warren; (born April 8, 1918 – died July 8, 2011); (in position August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977); She was the wife of Gerald R. Ford.
Books Journal articles Biographies of Gerald Ford with significant information about Betty Ford Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, née Smith; (born August 18, 1927 – died November 19, 2023); (in position January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981); She was the wife of Jimmy Carter.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of Jimmy Carter with significant information about Rosalynn Carter Nancy Davis Reagan, née Robbins, later Davis (adoption); (born July 6, 1921 – died March 6, 2016); (in position January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989); She was the wife of Ronald Reagan.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of Ronald Reagan with significant information about Nancy Reagan Barbara Pierce Bush, née Pierce; (born June 8, 1925 – died April 17, 2018); (in position January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993); She was the wife of George H. W. Bush.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of George H. W. Bush with significant information about Barbara Bush Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, née Rodham; October 26, 1947; She is the wife of Bill Clinton.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama Melania Trump, née Knavs, born Melanija Knavs; April 26, 1970; She is the wife of Donald Trump.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Melania Trump Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden, née Jacobs, born June 3, 1951; She is the second wife of Joe Biden; his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden died in 1972 prior to his becoming President of the United States.
Books Journal articles Primary sources Biographies of with significant information about Jill Biden