9 American First Ladies Who Weren’t Married to the President

2. Emily Donelson

We continue our list of American first ladies who weren’t married to the president with Emily Donelson. Andrew Jackson’s wife died of a heart attack in 1828, just a few months before his inauguration as the seventh president of the US.

In her absence, the role of the first lady fell to Emily, her 21-year-old niece. She helped assist with a sumptuous renovation of the White House and presided over numerous presidential parties.

Though many people liked her, the presence of the young Tennessee native created controversies in the early years of President Jackson’s administration. Along with the wives of the cabinet members, Emily reportedly ostracized the Secretary of War’s spouse over rumors that she had gotten involved in an extramarital affair.

The so-called “Petticoat Affair” caused a falling out between Emily and the former president, and she withdrew from her duties. A few years later, in 1836, she died of tuberculosis. Jackson’s daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke Jackson, was the one who took over as first lady for the remainder of his presidency.