First Ladies Rulers

12" Wooden Ruler made in U.S.A. of American-grown basswood.

The role of the First Lady of the United States has never been officially codified or defined. We tend to think if her as the wife of the president. But in the past, the term was also commonly used to describe the role of White House hostess. And that is not always the same thing.

For example, Rachel Donelson Jackson died just days after her husband Andrew Jackson was elected president, and before Jackson was inaugurated in 1829. The role of First Lady was assumed by Rachel’s niece Emily Donelson (1829). The president’s daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke Jackson (1834), later became co-hostess, and this was the only time in American history when there were two women acting simultaneously as White House hostess. When Emily died in 1836, Sarah took over the sole duties. Both Emily and Sarah are listed on our ruler, but Rachel is not.

Hannah Hoes Van Buren died 17 years before her husband Martin Van Buren became president. He never remarried. For almost two years President Van Buren managed without a White House hostess, but eventually he asked his 20-year-old daughter-in-law, Angelica Singleton Van Buren (1838) to fulfill the role. She is the youngest women ever to have acted as White House hostess.

James Buchanan was the only president to remain a bachelor for his entire life. During his presidency his young niece Harriet Lane (1857) was the acting First Lady.