Who was the very first first lady of US?

Answer 1

Lucy Webb Hayes was probably the first of the President's wives to be given that title while she lived in the White House. Writers of etiquette books, and those in Washington society, were horrified in 1877 when journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of the Land". Prior to Ms. Ames pilfering the "First Lady" title for her article, no references to wives of the President were anything but just that; The wife of the President. The First Lady (an honorary title, by the way) was always the spouse of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, until a reporter decided to mix things up a bit.

"CHAPTER I. SOCIAL ETIQUETTE AT WASHINGTON.THE wife of the chief-justice, and not the wife of the President, is the first lady in the land, and takes precedence of all others. She holds receptions and receives calls, but she alone is excluded from all duty of returning calls.

The life of a lady in society at Washington is exceedingly onerous, and more especially so if she be the wife of any official.

Next in rank comes the wife of the President."

From "The Ladies' and Gentlemen's Etiquette"A Complete Manual of the Manners and Dress of American Society by E. B. Duffey ~ 1877

The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of the Land" while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes.