What president had someone other than his wife as first lady?

Answer 1

There have been several women who have served as White House hostess ("First Lady") because the President's wife was unavailable for the role, generally due to being dead.

Thomas Jefferson's wife died before he became president; the role of White House hostess was filled by his daughter Martha instead (or sometimes by Dolley Madison, the wife of secretary of state James Madison).

Andrew Jackson's wife likewise died prior to his term, and his wife's niece Emily Donelson instead filled the hostess role until she also died, at which point his daughter-in-law Sarah Jackson became the unofficial "First Lady."

Martin van Buren had the same issue (his wife died prior to his term) and used the same solution: his daughter-in-law Angelica Singleton van Buren was the White House hostess.

William Henry Harrison's wife Anna was still alive at the time of his inauguration, but was too sick to travel to Washington at the time; their daughter-in-law Jane Irwin Harrison played the hostess role instead with the intention that Anna would take over when she became well enough to travel. Harrison himself died a month later, and so his wife never served as hostess.

John Tyler's wife Letitia died while he was in office. His daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler served as hostess until he remarried (while still in office).

James Buchanan never married. His niece Harriet Lane filled the hostess role.

Chester A. Arthur's wife was also deceased at the time he became president; he asked his sister Mary Arthur McElroy to be the hostess.

Grover Cleveland was a bachelor when he took office; his sister Rose Cleveland acted as hostess for about a year until he married.

Benjamin Harrison's wife Caroline died while he was in office, and his daughter Mary Harrison McKee acted as hostess for the rest of his term.

Woodrow Wilson's wife Ellen likewise died while he was in office; his daughter Margaret Woodrow Wilson filled the role until Wilson remarried a little over a year later.

Answer 2

James Buchanan, 15th President of the US.

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of the US.

Andrew Jackson, 7th president of the US.

Answer 3

President James Buchanan, 15th President, who served from 1857 to 1861. He never married. While he was President his niece, Harriet Lane, served as the First Lady.