List of first ladies of the United States facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Lady of theUnited States of America |
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---|---|
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:
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Laura Bush
(2001–2009) -
Hillary Clinton
(1993–2001) -
Jill Biden
(2021–2025) -
Michelle Obama
(2009–2017) -
Melania Trump
(2017–2021) & (2025–present)
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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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23 | ![]() |
Caroline Harrison | March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 † |
Benjamin Harrison | |
![]() |
Mary Harrison McKee | October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893 |
Benjamin Harrison Daughter |
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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 |
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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
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Alice Paul.jpg
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