List of first ladies of the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Lady of the United States of America
Incumbent Melania Trump since January 20, 2025
Style	Madam First Lady
Residence	White House
Inaugural holder	Martha Washington
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 filled this role. This happens if a president is not married or if his wife cannot do the duties.

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 joins the president or represents him. Traditionally, First Ladies do not work outside the White House. But some, like Eleanor Roosevelt and Jill Biden, have kept their jobs. Eleanor Roosevelt gave her earnings to charity.

The First Lady has her own team. This team helps with White House events. It includes a social secretary, chief of staff, and press secretary. The Office of the First Lady plans all social gatherings. 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 there are 47 "first ladyships." After Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, Melania Trump became the 44th official 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, like John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson, had two official First Ladies. They remarried while they were president.

Some women are considered First Ladies even if they died before their husbands became president. These include Martha Wayles Skelton and Rachel Jackson. Harriet Lane, the niece of President James Buchanan, also served as First Lady. She is the only non-wife to be officially recognized.

Living First Ladies

Here are the living First Ladies as of February 2025, from oldest to youngest:

List of First Ladies

This list includes all women who have served as First Lady. This is true whether they were married to the president or not. The White House and the White House Historical Association recognize them. The list is sorted by the name they were commonly known by.

No.	Portrait	Name	Time in Office	President
1		Martha Washington	April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797	George Washington
2		Abigail Adams	March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801	John Adams
3		Martha Jefferson	March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809	Thomas Jefferson Father
4		Dolley Madison	March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817	James Madison
5		Elizabeth Monroe	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825	James Monroe
6		Louisa Adams	March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829	John Quincy Adams
7		Emily Donelson	March 4, 1829 – November 26, 1834	Andrew Jackson Niece-in-law
		Sarah Jackson	November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837	Andrew Jackson Daughter-in-law
8	Vacant		March 4, 1837 – November 27, 1838	Vacant	Martin Van Buren Widower
		Sarah Van Buren	November 27, 1838 – March 4, 1841	Martin Van Buren Daughter-in-law
9		Anna Harrison	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	William Henry Harrison
		Jane Harrison	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	William Henry Harrison Daughter-in-law
10		Letitia Tyler	April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842 †	John Tyler
		Priscilla Tyler	September 10, 1842 – June 26, 1844	John Tyler Daughter-in-law
		Julia Tyler	June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845	John Tyler Married while president
11		Sarah Polk	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849	James K. Polk
12		Margaret "Peggy" Taylor	March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850	Zachary Taylor
13		Abigail Fillmore	July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853	Millard Fillmore
14		Jane Pierce	March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857	Franklin Pierce
15		Harriet Lane	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861	James Buchanan Niece
16		Mary Lincoln	March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865	Abraham Lincoln
17		Eliza Johnson	April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869	Andrew Johnson
18		Julia Grant	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877	Ulysses S. Grant
19		Lucy Hayes	March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881	Rutherford B. Hayes
20		Lucretia Garfield	March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881	James A. Garfield
21		Mary McElroy	September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885	Chester A. Arthur Sister
22		Rose Cleveland	March 4, 1885 – June 2, 1886	Grover Cleveland Sister
		Frances Cleveland	June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889	Grover Cleveland< Married while president
23		Caroline Harrison	March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 †	Benjamin Harrison
		Mary Harrison McKee	October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893	Benjamin Harrison Daughter
24		Frances Cleveland	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897	Grover Cleveland
25		Ida McKinley	March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901	William McKinley
26		Edith Roosevelt	September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909	Theodore Roosevelt
27		Helen "Nellie" Taft	March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913	William H. Taft
28		Ellen Wilson	March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914 †	Woodrow Wilson
		Margaret Wilson	August 6, 1914 – December 18, 1915	Woodrow Wilson Daughter
		Edith Wilson	December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921	Woodrow Wilson Married while president
29		Florence Harding	March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923	Warren G. Harding
30		Grace Coolidge	August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929	Calvin Coolidge
31		Lou Hoover	March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933	Herbert Hoover
32		Eleanor Roosevelt	March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt
33		Elizabeth "Bess" Truman	April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953	Harry S. Truman
34		Mary "Mamie" Eisenhower	January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961	Dwight D. Eisenhower
35		Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy	January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963	John F. Kennedy
36		Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson	November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969	Lyndon B. Johnson
37		Thelma "Pat" Nixon	January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974	Richard Nixon
38		Elizabeth "Betty" Ford	August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977	Gerald Ford
39		Rosalynn Carter	January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981	Jimmy Carter
40		Nancy Reagan	January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989	Ronald Reagan
41		Barbara Bush	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993	George H. W. Bush
42		Hillary Clinton	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001	Bill Clinton
43		Laura Bush	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009	George W. Bush
44		Michelle Obama	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017	Barack Obama
45		Melania Trump	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021	Donald Trump
46		Jill Biden	January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025	Joe Biden
47		Melania Trump	January 20, 2025 – Present	Donald Trump

Images for kids

• Alice Paul.jpg

  Alice Paul

See also

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

• Bibliography of United States presidential spouses and first ladies
• 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 memoirs by first ladies of the United States
• List of presidents of the United States
• List of First Lady of the United States firsts
• Spouse of the prime minister of Canada
• First Lady of Mexico
• Category:Acting first ladies of the United States