List of first ladies of the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Lady of the United States
Incumbent Melania Trump since January 20, 2025
Style	Madam First Lady
Residence	White House
Inaugural holder	Martha Washington
Formation	April 30, 1789; 236 years ago (1789-04-30)
Website	First Ladies

The First Lady of the United States is a special role in the White House. This position is usually held by the wife of the president of the United States. Sometimes, other women have taken on this role. This happens if a president is not married or if his wife cannot do the job.

Being the First Lady is not an elected job. It does not come with official duties or a salary. However, the First Lady attends many important events. She often goes with the president or represents him. Traditionally, First Ladies do not have other jobs while in this role. But some, like Eleanor Roosevelt, earned money from writing and talks, giving most to charity. Jill Biden also kept her job as an educator. The First Lady has her own team to help with her work. This team includes a social secretary, chief of staff, and press secretary. The Office of the First Lady also plans social events at the White House. It is part of the Executive Office of the President.

There have been 55 First Ladies in total. This includes 44 official First Ladies and 11 acting ones. Some presidents had more than one First Lady. This is why the numbers are different. After Donald Trump became president again on January 20, 2025, his wife, Melania Trump, became the 44th official First Lady.

Who Has Been First Lady?

There are four living former First Ladies today. They are Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Jill Biden. The most recent First Lady to pass away was Rosalynn Carter. The very first First Lady was Martha Washington.

Some presidents had more than one official First Lady. For example, John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson both remarried while they were president. Also, the wives of four presidents passed away before their husbands became president. However, the White House still considers them First Ladies. These include Martha Jefferson, Rachel Jackson, Hannah Van Buren, and Nell Arthur. One woman who was not married to a president is also an official First Lady: Harriet Lane. She was the niece of bachelor president James Buchanan.

In 2007, the United States Mint started making special gold coins. These coins feature portraits of the First Ladies. If a president served without a spouse, the coin shows a picture of Liberty. This happened for the coins of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan. However, the coin for Chester A. Arthur's First Lady shows suffragette Alice Paul.

Current Living First Ladies

Here are the First Ladies who are still alive today (from oldest to youngest):

List of First Ladies

This list includes all the people who have served as First Lady. It includes those married to the president and others. The official White House website and the White House Historical Association recognize these individuals. The list is sorted by the name the First Ladies were commonly known as.

POTUS No.	Portrait	Name	Time in Office	Age at start	President (Husband, unless noted)
1		Martha Washington Born June 2, 1731 – Died May 22, 1802	April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797	57 years, 321 days	George Washington Married January 6, 1759
2		Abigail Adams Born November 22, 1744 – Died October 28, 1818	March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801	52 years, 102 days	John Adams Married October 25, 1764
3		Martha Jefferson Born September 27, 1772 – Died October 10, 1836	March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809	28 years, 158 days	Thomas Jefferson Daughter
4		Dolley Madison Born May 20, 1768 – Died July 12, 1849	March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817	40 years, 288 days	James Madison Married September 14, 1794
5		Elizabeth Monroe Born June 30, 1768 – Died September 23, 1830	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825	48 years, 247 days	James Monroe Married February 16, 1786
6		Louisa Adams Born in Great Britain Born February 12, 1775 – Died May 15, 1852	March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829	50 years, 20 days	John Quincy Adams Married July 26, 1797
7		Emily Donelson Born June 1, 1807 – Died December 19, 1836	March 4, 1829 – November 26, 1834	21 years, 276 days	Andrew Jackson Niece-in-law
		Sarah Jackson Born July 16, 1803 – Died August 23, 1887	November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837	31 years, 133 days	Andrew Jackson Daughter-in-law
8	No First Lady		March 4, 1837 – November 27, 1838	No First Lady	Martin Van Buren Widower
		Sarah Van Buren Born February 13, 1818 – Died December 29, 1877	November 27, 1838 – March 4, 1841	20 years, 287 days	Martin Van Buren Daughter-in-law
9		Anna Harrison Born July 25, 1775 – Died February 25, 1864	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	65 years, 222 days	William Henry Harrison Married November 25, 1795
		Jane Harrison Born July 23, 1804 – Died May 11, 1847	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	36 years, 224 days	William Henry Harrison Daughter-in-law
10		Letitia Tyler Born November 12, 1790 – Died September 10, 1842	April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842 †	50 years, 143 days	John Tyler Married March 29, 1813
		Priscilla Tyler Born June 14, 1816 – Died December 29, 1889	September 10, 1842 – June 26, 1844	26 years, 88 days	John Tyler Daughter-in-law
		Julia Tyler Born May 4, 1820 – Died July 10, 1889	June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845	24 years, 53 days	John Tyler Married June 26, 1844 Married while president
11		Sarah Polk Born September 4, 1803 – Died August 14, 1891	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849	41 years, 181 days	James K. Polk Married January 1, 1824
12		Margaret "Peggy" Taylor Born September 21, 1788 – Died August 14, 1852	March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850	60 years, 164 days	Zachary Taylor Married June 21, 1810
13		Abigail Fillmore Born March 13, 1798 – Died March 30, 1853	July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853	52 years, 118 days	Millard Fillmore Married February 5, 1826
14		Jane Pierce Born March 12, 1806 – Died December 2, 1863	March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857	46 years, 357 days	Franklin Pierce Married November 19, 1834
15		Harriet Lane Born May 9, 1830 – Died July 3, 1903	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861	26 years, 299 days	James Buchanan Niece
16		Mary Lincoln Born December 13, 1818 – Died July 16, 1882	March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865	42 years, 81 days	Abraham Lincoln Married November 4, 1842
17		Eliza Johnson Born October 4, 1810 – Died January 15, 1876	April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869	54 years, 193 days	Andrew Johnson Married May 17, 1827
18		Julia Grant Born January 26, 1826 – Died December 14, 1902	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877	43 years, 37 days	Ulysses S. Grant Married August 22, 1848
19		Lucy Hayes Born August 28, 1831 – Died June 25, 1889	March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881	45 years, 188 days	Rutherford B. Hayes Married December 30, 1852
20		Lucretia Garfield Born April 19, 1832 – Died March 14, 1918	March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881	48 years, 319 days	James A. Garfield Married November 11, 1858
21		Mary McElroy Born July 5, 1841 – Died January 8, 1917	September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885	40 years, 76 days	Chester A. Arthur Sister
22		Rose Cleveland Born June 13, 1846 – Died November 22, 1918	March 4, 1885 – June 2, 1886	38 years, 264 days	Grover Cleveland Sister
		Frances Cleveland Born July 21, 1864 – Died October 29, 1947	June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889	21 years, 316 days	Grover Cleveland Married June 2, 1886 Married while president
23		Caroline Harrison Born October 1, 1832 – Died October 25, 1892	March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 †	56 years, 154 days	Benjamin Harrison Married October 20, 1853
		Mary Harrison McKee Born April 3, 1858 – Died October 28, 1930	October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893	34 years, 205 days	Benjamin Harrison Daughter
24		Frances Cleveland Born July 21, 1864 – Died October 29, 1947	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897	28 years, 226 days	Grover Cleveland Married June 2, 1886
25		Ida McKinley Born June 8, 1847 – Died May 26, 1907	March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901	49 years, 269 days	William McKinley Married January 25, 1871
26		Edith Roosevelt Born August 6, 1861 – Died September 30, 1948	September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909	40 years, 39 days	Theodore Roosevelt Married December 2, 1886
27		Helen "Nellie" Taft Born June 2, 1861 – Died May 22, 1943	March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913	47 years, 275 days	William H. Taft Married June 19, 1886
28		Ellen Wilson Born May 15, 1860 – Died August 6, 1914	March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914 †	52 years, 293 days	Woodrow Wilson Married June 24, 1885
		Margaret Wilson Born April 16, 1886 – Died February 12, 1944	August 6, 1914 – December 18, 1915	28 years, 112 days	Woodrow Wilson Daughter
		Edith Wilson Born October 15, 1872 – Died December 28, 1961	December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921	43 years, 64 days	Woodrow Wilson Married December 18, 1915 Married while president
29		Florence Harding Born August 15, 1860 – Died November 21, 1924	March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923	60 years, 201 days	Warren G. Harding Married July 8, 1891
30		Grace Coolidge Born January 3, 1879 – Died July 8, 1957	August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929	44 years, 211 days	Calvin Coolidge Married October 4, 1905
31		Lou Hoover Born March 29, 1874 – Died January 7, 1944	March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933	54 years, 340 days	Herbert Hoover Married February 10, 1899
32		Eleanor Roosevelt Born October 11, 1884 – Died November 7, 1962	March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945	48 years, 144 days	Franklin D. Roosevelt Married March 17, 1905
33		Elizabeth "Bess" Truman Born February 13, 1885 – Died October 18, 1982	April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953	60 years, 58 days	Harry S. Truman Married June 28, 1919
34		Mary "Mamie" Eisenhower Born November 14, 1896 – Died November 1, 1979	January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961	56 years, 67 days	Dwight D. Eisenhower Married July 1, 1916
35		Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy Born July 28, 1929 – Died May 19, 1994	January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963	31 years, 176 days	John F. Kennedy Married September 12, 1953
36		Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson Born December 22, 1912 – Died July 11, 2007	November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969	50 years, 335 days	Lyndon B. Johnson Married November 17, 1934
37		Thelma "Pat" Nixon Born March 16, 1912 – Died June 22, 1993	January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974	56 years, 310 days	Richard Nixon Married June 21, 1940
38		Elizabeth "Betty" Ford Born April 8, 1918 – Died July 8, 2011	August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977	56 years, 123 days	Gerald Ford Married October 15, 1948
39		Rosalynn Carter Born August 18, 1927 – Died November 19, 2023	January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981	49 years, 155 days	Jimmy Carter Married July 7, 1946
40		Nancy Reagan Born July 6, 1921 – Died March 6, 2016	January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989	59 years, 203 days	Ronald Reagan Married March 4, 1952
41		Barbara Bush Born June 8, 1925 – Died April 17, 2018	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993	63 years, 226 days	George H. W. Bush Married January 6, 1945
42		Hillary Clinton Born (1947-10-26) October 26, 1947 (age 77)	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001	45 years, 86 days	Bill Clinton Married October 11, 1975
43		Laura Bush Born (1946-11-04) November 4, 1946 (age 78)	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009	54 years, 77 days	George W. Bush Married November 5, 1977
44		Michelle Obama Born (1964-01-17) January 17, 1964 (age 61)	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017	45 years, 3 days	Barack Obama Married October 3, 1992
45		Melania Trump Born in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) Born (1970-04-26) April 26, 1970 (age 55)	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021	46 years, 269 days	Donald Trump Married January 22, 2005
46		Jill Biden Born (1951-06-03) June 3, 1951 (age 74)	January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025	69 years, 231 days	Joe Biden Married June 17, 1977
47		Melania Trump Born in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) Born (1970-04-26) April 26, 1970 (age 55)	January 20, 2025 – Present	54 years, 269 days	Donald Trump Married January 22, 2005

Other Spouses of Presidents

Some spouses of presidents are not considered official First Ladies. This is usually because they were not married to the president during his time in office.

Four presidents were widowers before they became president:

• Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles until she passed away in 1782.
• Andrew Jackson was married to Rachel Donelson until she passed away in 1828.
• Martin Van Buren was married to Hannah Hoes until she passed away in 1819.
• Chester A. Arthur was married to Ellen Lewis Herndon until she passed away in 1880.

Two presidents were widowers and remarried before their presidencies:

• Theodore Roosevelt was married to Alice Hathaway Lee until she passed away in 1884. He later married Edith Carow in 1886.
• Joe Biden was married to Neilia Hunter until she passed away in 1972. He later married Jill Jacobs in 1977.

Two presidents were divorced and remarried before their presidencies:

• Ronald Reagan was married to Jane Wyman from 1940 to 1949. He later married Nancy Davis in 1952.
• Donald Trump was married to Ivana Zelníčková from 1977 to 1992 and to Marla Maples from 1993 to 1999. He later married Melania Knauss in 2005.

Two presidents remarried after their presidencies:

• Millard Fillmore married Caroline Carmichael McIntosh in 1858.
• Benjamin Harrison married Mary Scott Lord Dimmick in 1896. She was the niece of his first wife.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Primeras damas de los Estados Unidos para niños

• Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States
• First family of the United States
• List of children of presidents of the United States
• List of current United States first spouses
• List of presidents of the United States
• List of First Lady of the United States firsts