Reference
- Angelica Singleton Van Buren, First Lady for a WidowerAngelica Singleton became first lady to a president whom she had not even known when he had won the election in 1836. Yet she played a major role during his term at the White House—the “Executive Mansion”—and set numerous precedents for the women who followed her. Despite her importance during her lifetime, she has not been studied and is only marginally remembered now. Because of the dearth of material on her, it is probable that she will remain a shadowy figure in the future. She will always be tied to President Martin Van Buren, who is himself a historical enigma and is far from being properly known. Van Buren's biographers—Edward L. Widmer (2005); Donald Cole (1984); John Niven (1983); Leonard L. Richards, Marla R. Miller, and Erik Gilg (2006); and Major L. Wilson (1984)—say relatively little about her, and she lacks a full-scale biography. It is unfortunate that there is so little material on her, because her life in the White House left a lasting legacy.
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Angelica Singleton Van Buren played an important role in nineteenth-century American life. Her support of her father-in-law as president before, during, and after his time in the Executive Mansion was notable. According to Donald Cole, a leading biographer of Martin Van Buren, “Angelica had just the sort of aristocratic background that Martin Van Buren could appreciate. The marriage strengthened Van Buren's ties with the [politically powerful] Richmond Junto, the Old Republican party, and the Old South” (Cole, 1984: 346). She was the youngest first lady in American history. In later years she downplayed her role. “Beyond receiving and paying visits I had no onerous duties … [besides] always assist[ing] the president … my duties have been those of a social rather than semi-official nature” (quoted in Halloway, 1886, 1: 578). Despite her reticence to take a public stance, she exerted a major influence on her times. Still, few Americans remembered her after she left Washington, and even fewer Americans remember her today. In 2007 Laura Bush, then the first lady of the United States, was leading a tour of the White House and pointed to the portrait of Angelica that still hangs there. Laura Bush identified her not as Angelica Van Buren, but as modern actress Angelica Huston.
(Cont. in the article linked above)
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Resources
- First FamiliesInformation on the first families from the White House.
- The First LadiesBiographies and portraits of America's first ladies.
- First Ladies of the United StatesOver 47 women have held the role of First Lady as of 2017. However, not all those who have served as a first lady were spouses to the presidents. If the president was a bachelor or widower, or if his wife was unable or unwilling to perform the role, other female relatives or friends were called upon to carry out the first lady's official duties; thus, there have been more first ladies than presidents. For more information and biographies on each of the first ladies, visit the National First Ladies Library.
- First Ladies ResearchOnline catalog of materials available at the National First Ladies' Education and Research Center.
Portrait
Anna Singleton Van Buren
Daughter-in-Law of the eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren
She assumed the post of first lady because the president's wife, Hannah Van Buren, had died and he never remarried. She is the youngest woman ever to act as the White House hostess.