History Site
	Cindy Kessler BellaOnline's History Editor

01. The First First Lady - Martha Washington
Martha Washington said, “I am determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

02. The Second First Lady – Abigail Adams
Most noted for her letter-writing skills, Abigail Adams´ correspondence with her husband served to keep their marriage strong, loving, and lasting.

03. The Third First Lady - Martha Jefferson
Martha Jefferson died 19 years before Thomas Jefferson became president. Yet her spirit remained with Jefferson as he fulfilled his presidential duties and performed most of the functions of the First Lady, with some help from his daughters and Dolley Madison.

04. The Fourth First Lady – Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison was one of the most energetic first ladies. She saved important documents and a portrait of George Washington from being destroyed.

05. The Fifth First Lady - Elizabeth Kortright Monroe
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe was very different from Dolley Madison; Mrs. Monroe was more formal and much less social. But her mere presence caused French officials to release a prisoner during the French Revolution.

06. The Sixth First Lady - Louisa Adams
This article offers a brief biographical sketch of Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, sixth First Lady of the United States.

07. The Seventh First Lady – Rachel Jackson
Rachel Jackson died while her husband was president-elect; somewhat like Martha Jefferson, she did not live to perform the services of a first lady.

The Eighth First Lady – Hannah Van Buren
Like Martha Jefferson and Rachel Jackson, Hannah van Buren did not live to perform the duties of First Lady.

The Thirty-Eighth First Lady - Betty Ford
First Lady Betty Ford's legacy is as far-reaching as any president's. The Betty Ford Center has helped many people cope with drug and alcohol addictions.