Although the role of first lady of the United States, sometimes abbreviated FLOTUS, is not codified in law and has never been officially defined, American first ladies have played a prominent role in the political and social life of the country. Typically, the first lady has been the wife of the president of the United States but in the few instances when the president was a bachelor or widower, sometimes a relative, such as daughters, daughters-in-law or nieces have filled the role.

Information comes from Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition; image from Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation.

This list includes presidents' wives and others who served in the capacity of First Ladies.

18th Century

• Martha Washington
• Abigail Adams

19th Century

• Martha Jefferson (died before Thomas Jefferson was elected)
• Dolley Madison
• Elizabeth Monroe
• Louisa Adams
• Rachel Jackson (died before Andrew Jackson was inaugurated)
• Emily Donelson (niece of Andrew Jackson)
• Sarah  Yorke Jackson (daughter-in-law of Andrew Jackson)
• Hannah Van Buren (died before Martin Van Buren was elected)
• Angelica Singletown Van Buren (daughter-in-law of Martin Van Buren)
• Anna Harrison
• Letitia Tyler
• Priscilla Cooper Tyler (daughter-in-law of John Tyler)
• Julia Tyler
• Sarah Polk
• Margaret Taylor
• Abigail Fillmore
• Jane Pierce
• Harriet Lane (niece of James Buchanan)
• Mary Todd Lincoln
• Eliza Johnson
• Julia Grant
• Lucy Hayes
• Lucretia Garfield
• Ellen Arthur (died before Chester A. Arthur was elected)
• Mary Arthur McElroy (sister of Chester A. Arthur)
• Rose Cleveland (sister of Grover Cleveland)
• Frances Cleveland
• Caroline Harrison
• Mary Harrison McKee ( daughter of Benjamin Harrison)
• Frances Cleveland
• Ida McKinley

20th Century

• Edith Roosevelt
• Helen Taft
• Ellen Wilson
• Margaret Woodrow Wilson (daughter of Woodrow Wilson)
• Edith Wilson
• Florence Harding
• Grace Coolidge
• Lou Henry Hoover
• Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
• Elizabeth "Bess" Truman
• Mamie Eisenhower
• Jacqueline Kennedy
• Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson
• Thelma "Pat" Nixon
• Elizabeth "Betty" Ford
• Eleanor Rosalyn Carter
• Nancy Reagan
• Barbara Bush
• Hillary Clinton

21st Century

• Laura Bush
• Michelle Obama
• Melania Trump
• Jill Biden

The following databases will have information on the First Ladies and the historical period in which they lived.

• Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window

• Biography Reference Bank This link opens in a new window

• Biography Reference Center This link opens in a new window

• U.S. History (Gale In Context)