Complete List of U.S. First Ladies and Their Corresponding Presidents (1789–Present)

Curious about the women who served as U.S. First Ladies and the presidents they stood beside? This comprehensive guide lists every First Lady in American history, from 1789 to the present, along with the presidents they supported. Whether you’re a student, history enthusiast, or simply curious, bookmark this page as your go-to reference for U.S. First Ladies!

Why This List Matters

First Ladies have played diverse roles in American history, from hosting White House events to championing social causes like education, healthcare, and women’s rights. Understanding who they were and the presidents they served with provides a unique lens on U.S. history and leadership.

List of All U.S. First Ladies by Term

Below is the complete list of U.S. First Ladies, their terms of service, and the presidents they were associated with. Note that some presidents had multiple First Ladies due to remarriage or death, and some First Ladies were not spouses but relatives or close associates serving in the role.

• Martha Washington (1789–1797) – George Washington
• Abigail Adams (1797–1801) – John Adams
• Martha Jefferson Randolph (1801–1809) – Thomas Jefferson (daughter; Jefferson was widowed)
• Dolley Madison (1809–1817) – James Madison
• Elizabeth Monroe (1817–1825) – James Monroe
• Louisa Adams (1825–1829) – John Quincy Adams
• Emily Donelson (1829–1836) – Andrew Jackson (niece; Jackson was widowed)
• Sarah Jackson (1834–1837) – Andrew Jackson (daughter-in-law; co-hostess)
• Julia Gardiner Tyler (1844–1845) – John Tyler (second wife)
• Sarah Polk (1845–1849) – James K. Polk
• Margaret Taylor (1849–1850) – Zachary Taylor
• Abigail Fillmore (1850–1853) – Millard Fillmore
• Jane Pierce (1853–1857) – Franklin Pierce
• Harriet Lane (1857–1861) – James Buchanan (niece; Buchanan was unmarried)
• Mary Todd Lincoln (1861–1865) – Abraham Lincoln
• Eliza McCardle Johnson (1865–1869) – Andrew Johnson
• Julia Grant (1869–1877) – Ulysses S. Grant
• Lucy Hayes (1877–1881) – Rutherford B. Hayes
• Lucretia Garfield (1881) – James A. Garfield
• Ellen Arthur (1881–1885) – Chester A. Arthur (sister-in-law; Arthur was widowed)
• Frances Cleveland (1886–1889) – Grover Cleveland
• Caroline Harrison (1889–1892) – Benjamin Harrison
• Mary McKee (1892–1893) – Benjamin Harrison (daughter; after Caroline’s death)
• Frances Cleveland (1893–1897) – Grover Cleveland (second term)
• Ida McKinley (1897–1901) – William McKinley
• Edith Roosevelt (1901–1909) – Theodore Roosevelt
• Helen Taft (1909–1913) – William Howard Taft
• Ellen Wilson (1913–1914) – Woodrow Wilson (died during term)
• Edith Wilson (1915–1921) – Woodrow Wilson (second wife)
• Florence Harding (1921-1923) – Warren Harding
• Grace Coolidge (1923–1929) – Calvin Coolidge
• Lou Hoover (1929–1933) – Herbert Hoover
• Eleanor Roosevelt (1933–1945) – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Bess Truman (1945–1953) – Harry S. Truman
• Mamie Eisenhower (1953–1961) – Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Jacqueline Kennedy (1961–1963) – John F. Kennedy
• Lady Bird Johnson (1963–1969) – Lyndon B. Johnson
• Pat Nixon (1969–1974) – Richard M. Nixon
• Betty Ford (1974–1977) – Gerald R. Ford
• Rosalynn Carter (1977–1981) – Jimmy Carter
• Nancy Reagan (1981–1989) – Ronald Reagan
• Barbara Bush (1989–1993) – George H. W. Bush
• Hillary Clinton (1993–2001) – Bill Clinton
• Laura Bush (2001–2009) – George W. Bush
• Michelle Obama (2009–2017) – Barack Obama
• Melania Trump (2017–2021) – Donald J. Trump
• Jill Biden (2021–2025) – Joe Biden
• Melania Trump (2025–Present) – Donald J. Trump

Note: In cases where a president was unmarried, widowed, or their spouse was unable to serve, a female relative or close associate often acted as First Lady. Terms reflect the time they served in this role.