List of first ladies of the United States

First Lady of the United States of America
File:Jill Biden First Lady official portrait (cropped).jpg Currently in role Jill Biden since January 20, 2021
Style	Madam First Lady
Residence	White House
Inaugural holder	Martha Washington
Website	First Ladies

The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, but, on occasion, the title has been applied to women who were not presidents' wives, such as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the first lady. The first lady is not an elected position; it carries no official duties and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. Traditionally, the first lady does not hold outside employment while occupying the office, although Eleanor Roosevelt earned money writing and giving lectures, but gave most of it to charity. She has her own staff, including the White House social secretary, the chief of staff, the press secretary, the chief floral designer, and the executive chef. The Office of the First Lady is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House, and is a branch of the Executive Office of the President.

There have been total of 54 first ladies including 43 official and 11 acting, within 46 first ladyships. This discrepancy exists because some presidents had multiple first ladies. Following Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021, his wife, Jill Biden, became the 43rd official first lady.

There are five living former first ladies: Rosalynn Carter, married to Jimmy Carter; Hillary Clinton, married to Bill Clinton; Laura Bush, married to George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, married to Barack Obama; and Melania Trump, married to Donald Trump. The first first lady was Martha Washington, married to George Washington. Presidents John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson had two official first ladies; both remarried during their presidential tenures. The wives of four presidents died before their husbands were sworn into office but are still considered first ladies by the White House and National First Ladies' Library: Martha Wayles Skelton, married to Thomas Jefferson; Rachel Jackson, married to Andrew Jackson; Hannah Van Buren, married to Martin Van Buren; and Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, married to Chester A. Arthur. One woman who was not married to a president is still considered an official first lady: Harriet Lane, niece of bachelor James Buchanan. The other non-spousal relatives who served as White House hostesses are not recognized by the First Ladies' Library.

In 2007, the United States Mint began releasing a set of half-ounce $10 gold coins under the First Spouse Program with engravings of portraits of the first ladies on the obverse. When a president served without a spouse, a gold coin was issued that bears an obverse image emblematic of Liberty as depicted on a circulating coin of that era and a reverse image emblematic of themes of that president's life. This is true for the coins for Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan's first ladies, but not the coin for Chester A. Arthur's first lady, which instead depicts suffragette Alice Paul.

Current living first ladies

Living first ladies as of November 19, 2024 (from oldest to youngest):

• Rosalynn Carter (48885949882).jpg

  Rosalynn Carter
  (1977–1981)
  Born (1927-08-18)August 18, 1927
  (age )
• President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (50857648131) (cropped).jpg

  Laura Bush
  (2001–2009)
  Born (1946-11-04)November 4, 1946
  (age )
• Hillary Clinton (12996) (cropped).jpg

  Hillary Clinton
  (1993–2001)
  Born (1947-10-26)October 26, 1947
  (age )
• President Joe Biden swearing in ceremony 2 (cropped).jpg

  Jill Biden
  (2021–present)
  Born (1951-06-03)June 3, 1951
  (age )
• Michelle Obama at SNHU October 2016 (cropped) (cropped).jpg

  Michelle Obama
  (2009–2017)
  Born (1964-01-17)January 17, 1964
  (age )
• First Lady Melania Trump Records a Reading of "The Little Rabbit" for Easter (49770725846) (cropped).jpg

  Melania Trump
  (2017–2021)
  Born (1970-04-26)April 26, 1970
  (age )

List

This list includes all persons who served as first ladies, regardless of whether they were married to the incumbent president or not, as well as persons who are considered first ladies by the official White House website and the White House Historical Association.

POTUS No.	Portrait	Name	Tenure	Age at tenure start	President (Husband, unless noted)
1	Portrait of Martha Washington	Martha Washington June 13, 1731 – May 22, 1802 (aged 70)	April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797		George Washington m. January 6, 1759
2	Portrait painting of Abigail Adams	Abigail Adams November 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818 (aged 73)	March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801		John Adams m. October 25, 1764
3	Portrait painting of Martha Jefferson	Martha Jefferson September 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836 (aged 64)	March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809		Thomas Jefferson Father
4	Portrait painting of Dolly Madison	Dolley Madison May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849 (aged 81)	March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817		James Madison m. September 14, 1794
5	Portrait painting of Elizabeth Monroe	Elizabeth Monroe June 30, 1768 – September 23, 1830 (aged 62)	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825		James Monroe m. February 16, 1786
6	Portrait engraving of Louisa Adams	Louisa Adams Birth country: Great Britain (present day United Kingdom) February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852 (aged 77)	March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829		John Quincy Adams m. July 26, 1797
7	96x96px	Emily Donelson June 1, 1807 – December 19, 1836 (aged 29)	March 4, 1829 – November 26, 1834		Andrew Jackson Uncle
	98x98px	Sarah Jackson July 16, 1803 – August 23, 1887 (aged 84)	November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837		Andrew Jackson Father-in-law
8	Vacant		March 4, 1837 – November 27, 1838	Vacant	Martin Van Buren Widower
	Portrait painting of Angelica Singleton Van Buren	Sarah Van Buren February 13, 1818 – December 29, 1877 (aged 59)	November 27, 1838 – March 4, 1841		Martin Van Buren Father-in-law
9	Portrait painting of Anna Tuthill Harrison	Anna Harrison July 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864 (aged 88)	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841		William Henry Harrison m. November 22, 1795
	Portrait painting of Jane Irwin Harrison	Jane Harrison July 23, 1804 – May 11, 1846 (aged 41)	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841		William Henry Harrison Father-in-law
10	Portrait painting of Letitia Tyler	Letitia Tyler November 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842 (aged 51)	April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842 †		John Tyler m. (1813-03-29)March 29, 1813
	Portrait painting of Priscilla Cooper Tyler	Elizabeth Priscilla Tyler June 14, 1816 – December 29, 1889 (aged 73)	September 10, 1842 – June 26, 1844		John Tyler Father-in-law
	Portrait painting of Julia Tyler	Julia Tyler July 29, 1820 – July 10, 1889 (aged 68)	June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845		John Tyler m. June 26, 1844 Married while President
11	Portrait painting of Sarah Polk	Sarah Polk September 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891 (aged 87)	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849		James K. Polk m. January 1, 1824
12		Margaret "Peggy" Taylor September 21, 1788 – August 14, 1852 (aged 63)	March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850		Zachary Taylor m. June 21, 1810
13	Portrait painting of Abigail Fillmore	Abigail Fillmore March 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853 (aged 55)	July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853		Millard Fillmore m. February 5, 1826
14	Engraving of Jane Pierce	Jane Pierce March 12, 1806 – December 2, 1863 (aged 57)	March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857		Franklin Pierce m. November 19, 1834
15	Portrait photograph of Harriet Lane	Harriet Lane May 9, 1830 – July 3, 1903 (aged 73)	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861		James Buchanan Uncle
16	Portrait photograph of Mary Lincoln	Mary Lincoln December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882 (aged 63)	March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865		Abraham Lincoln m. November 4, 1842
17	Portrait engraving of Eliza Johnson	Eliza Johnson October 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876 (aged 65)	April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869		Andrew Johnson m. May 17, 1827
18		Julia Grant January 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902 (aged 76)	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877		Ulysses S. Grant m. August 22, 1848
19		Lucy Hayes August 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889 (aged 57)	March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881		Rutherford B. Hayes m. December 30, 1852
20	Portrait photograph of Lucretia Garfield	Lucretia Garfield April 19, 1832 – March 14, 1918 (aged 85)	March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881		James A. Garfield m. November 11, 1858
21	Portrait of Mary Arthur McElroy	Mary McElroy July 5, 1841 – January 8, 1917 (aged 75)	September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885		Chester A. Arthur Brother
22		Rose Cleveland June 13, 1846 – November 22, 1918 (aged 72)	March 4, 1885 – June 2, 1886		Grover Cleveland Brother
		Frances Cleveland July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947 (aged 83)	June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889		Grover Cleveland m. June 2, 1886 Married while President
23		Caroline Harrison October 1, 1832 – October 25, 1892 (aged 60)	March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892 †		Benjamin Harrison m. October 20, 1853
	Portrait of Mary Harrison McKee	Mary Harrison McKee April 3, 1858 – October 28, 1930 (aged 72)	October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893		Benjamin Harrison Father
24		Frances Cleveland July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947 (aged 83)	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897		Grover Cleveland m. June 2, 1886 Remarried 1913
25		Ida McKinley June 8, 1847 – May 26, 1907 (aged 59)	March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901		William McKinley m. January 25, 1871
26		Edith Roosevelt August 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948 (aged 87)	September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909		Theodore Roosevelt m. December 2, 1886
27	Portrait of Helen Taft	Helen "Nellie" Taft June 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943 (aged 81)	March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913		William H. Taft m. June 19, 1886
28		Ellen Wilson May 15, 1860 – August 6, 1914 (aged 54)	March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914 †		Woodrow Wilson m. June 24, 1885
	Portrait of Margaret Woodrow Wilson	Margaret Wilson April 16, 1886 – February 12, 1944 (aged 57)	August 6, 1914 – December 18, 1915		Woodrow Wilson Father
		Edith Wilson October 15, 1872 – December 28, 1961 (aged 89)	December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921		Woodrow Wilson m. December 18, 1915 Married while President
29		Florence Harding August 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924 (aged 64)	March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923		Warren G. Harding m. July 8, 1891
30		Grace Coolidge January 3, 1879 – July 8, 1957 (aged 78)	August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929		Calvin Coolidge m. October 4, 1905
31	Portrait of Lou Hoover	Lou Hoover March 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944 (aged 69)	March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933		Herbert Hoover m. February 10, 1899
32	Portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt	Anna Eleanor Roosevelt October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962 (aged 78)	March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945		Franklin D. Roosevelt m. March 17, 1905
33		Elizabeth "Bess" Truman February 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982 (aged 97)	April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953		Harry S. Truman m. June 28, 1919
34	Portrait of Mamie Eisenhower	Mamie Eisenhower November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979 (aged 82)	January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961		Dwight D. Eisenhower m. July 1, 1916
35	Portrait Of Jaqueline Kennedy	Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994 (aged 64)	January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963		John F. Kennedy m. September 12, 1953 Remarried 1968
36	Portrait of Lady Bird Johnson	Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007 (aged 94)	November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969		Lyndon B. Johnson m. November 17, 1934
37		Thelma "Pat" Nixon March 16, 1912 – June 22, 1993 (aged 81)	January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974		Richard Nixon m. June 21, 1940
38	Portrait of Betty Ford	Elizabeth "Betty" Ford April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011 (aged 93)	August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977		Gerald Ford m. October 15, 1948
39		Eleanor Rosalynn Carter Born (1927-08-18) August 18, 1927	January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981		Jimmy Carter m. July 7, 1946
40		Nancy Reagan July 6, 1921 – March 6, 2016 (aged 94)	January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989		Ronald Reagan m. March 4, 1952
41		Barbara Bush June 8, 1925 – April 17, 2018 (aged 92)	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993		George H. W. Bush m. January 6, 1945
42	Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton	Hillary Clinton Born (1947-10-26) October 26, 1947	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001		Bill Clinton m. October 11, 1975
43	Portrait of Laura Bush	Laura Bush Born (1946-11-04) November 4, 1946	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009		George W. Bush m. November 5, 1977
44	Portrait of Michelle Obama	Michelle Obama Born (1964-01-17) January 17, 1964	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017		Barack Obama m. October 3, 1992
45	Photograph of Melania Trump	Melania Trump Birth country: Yugoslavia (present day Slovenia) Born (1970-04-26) April 26, 1970	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021		Donald Trump m. January 22, 2005
46	Photograph of Jill Biden	Jill Biden Born (1951-06-03) June 3, 1951	January 20, 2021 – present		Joe Biden m. June 17, 1977

Other spouses of presidents of the United States

Certain spouses of presidents of the United States are not considered first ladies of the United States.

Four presidents were widowed prior to their presidencies:

• Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles from 1772 until her death in 1782.
• Andrew Jackson was married to Rachel Donelson from 1794 until her death in 1828.
• Martin Van Buren was married to Hannah Hoes from 1807 until her death in 1819.
• Chester A. Arthur was married to Ellen Lewis Herndon from 1859 until her death in 1880.

Two presidents were widowed and remarried prior to their presidencies:

• Theodore Roosevelt was married to Alice Hathaway Lee from 1880 until her death in 1884. He was subsequently married to Edith Carow from 1886 to his death in 1919.
• Joe Biden was married to Neilia Hunter from 1966 until her death in 1972. He has subsequently been married to Jill Jacobs since 1977.

Two presidents were divorced and remarried prior to their presidencies:

• Ronald Reagan was married to Jane Wyman from 1940 until 1949. He was subsequently married to Nancy Davis from 1952 to his death in 2004.
• Donald Trump was married to Ivana Zelníčková from 1977 until 1992 and to Marla Maples from 1993 until 1999. He has subsequently been married to Melania Knauss since 2005.

Two presidents remarried after their presidencies:

• Millard Fillmore was married to Caroline Carmichael McIntosh from 1858 until his death in 1874.
• Benjamin Harrison was married to Mary Scott Lord Dimmick from 1896 until his death in 1901.

See also

• 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 the 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 United States First Lady firsts
• Spouse of the prime minister of Canada
• First Lady of Mexico

External links

• The First Ladies – White House
• Biographies of the First Ladies of the United States of America – National First Ladies' Library
• First Ladies National Historic Site