THE only U.S. president who never got married was James Buchanan, the 15th president.
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| Patch |
Since he never had a wife, he is the only president who never had an official First Lady. Instead, his niece, Harriet Lane, took care of the White House duties and is often called an "unofficial First Lady" because of her influence and popularity.
Presidents Without a Traditional First Lady
A few other presidents started their terms without being married or were widowers, but unlike Buchanan, they either married during their time in office or had family members take on the role of hostess.
Grover Cleveland entered office as a bachelor but married Frances Folsom while in the White House, making her the First Lady.
- Widowed Presidents -
- Thomas Jefferson
- Andrew Jackson
- Martin Van Buren
- Chester A. Arthur
Each of these presidents had female family members, like daughters, sisters, or nieces, who served as White House hostesses.
Examples include Emily Donelson, who hosted for Andrew Jackson, and Mary McElroy, who hosted for Chester A. Arthur.
Why Buchanan Is Unique
James Buchanan is special because he:
- Never married
- Had no wife at any point in his life
- Rely entirely on his niece to handle the hostess duties
This makes him the only U.S. president who never had a First Lady—official or unofficial—by marriage.