Frances Folsom was just 21 years old when she married 49-year-old President Grover Cleveland, becoming the youngest first lady in American history and a national celebrity.
Wikimedia CommonsFrances Cleveland served as first lady for two non-consecutive terms.
In 1892, Grover Cleveland made history as the first U.S. president to be elected to two non-consecutive terms in office. But his wife, First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland, made plenty of history of her own during their eight years in the White House.
Just 21 when she married her 49-year-old husband, Frances stands as the youngest first lady in American history. She is also the only woman to marry a sitting president at the White House, and the first — and so far, only — first lady to give birth at the White House. She also became a fashion icon, and some even credit Frances Folsom Cleveland with ending the “bustle” dress trend that had dominated the 1870s and 1880s.
This is the remarkable story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, the youngest first lady in U.S. history.
How Frances Folsom Became The First Lady
Public DomainA portrait of Frances Folsom Cleveland in 1886.
Born Frances Folsom on July 21, 1864, in Buffalo, New York, Frances had a privileged childhood. But it was also marked by tragedy.
In 1875, her father Oscar died in a carriage accident, after which Oscar’s law partner, Grover Cleveland, stepped in to help the family. Not only did Grover serve as the pallbearer at Oscar’s funeral but he also became an administrator of Oscar’s estate. He would have already been a familiar figure to 11-year-old Frances — her “Uncle Cleve” had given her first baby carriage.
And as Frances got older, “Uncle Cleve” watched out for her in other ways as well. Though she didn’t finish high school, Grover, then the mayor of Buffalo, stepped in help her get a diploma so that she could attend Wells College. Even after he was elected governor of New York, he wrote Frances letters and routinely sent her flowers to decorate her dorm room.
Public DomainA portrait of Grover Cleveland from when he was the governor of New York (1883 – 1885).
When Cleveland was elected president in 1885, he invited Frances Folsom to the inauguration. Though she couldn’t attend, she visited a few weeks later where, according to the White House Historical Association, reporters described her as a “young schoolgirl.” Unbeknownst to them, the president had begun to court the “schoolgirl” whom he had known since her infancy.
Though Frances was 27 years younger than the president, the couple fell in love. Frances Folsom agreed to marry Grover Cleveland in the summer of 1885, and the couple quietly began to prepare to wed.
Frances Folsom Cleveland, The Youngest First Lady In American History
On June 2, 1886, Grover and Frances Folsom Cleveland married in the Blue Room of the White House. It was an extremely private affair. Just 31 people were permitted to attend the ceremony and witness Frances, wearing a wedding dress intertwined with orange blossoms, marry the president. They were witnessing history as well — to date, Grover Cleveland is the only president to ever marry in the White House, and Frances Cleveland is the only woman to marry a sitting president in the White House.
Public DomainThe White House Wedding of Grover and Frances Cleveland.
And Frances, just 21 years old (her new husband was 49) also became the youngest first lady in U.S. history.
An object of public fascination, Frances Cleveland quickly became a fashion icon. Though some disapproved of her low-neckline décolleté gowns, many women eagerly emulated Frances’ style. They styled their hair “à la Cleveland” and when it was erroneously reported that the Cleveland no longer wore bustle dresses, she helped bring the long-standing trend to an end. What’s more, so companies used her likeness in their advertisements that Congress even considered stepping in.
She was not deeply involved in politics, but Frances Cleveland kept up a busy schedule. She hosted two receptions a week, including one on the weekend so that working women could attend. According to the Miller Center, she also supported organizations that helped poor children of color in Washington D.C. and promoted women’s education. And Frances, fluent in French and German, was also a favorite among Washington’s diplomats.
Wikimedia CommonsA portrait of Frances Cleveland circa 1886.
Frances was also her husband’s staunch supporter, and when Grover Cleveland lost the 1888 presidential election to Benjamin Harrison, she vowed to White House staff that they would return in four years.
“Now, Jerry,” she said, “I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, and not let any of them get lost or broken, for I want to find everything just as it is now, when we come back again.”
She was right — four years later, Grover won the presidency for a second time and became the first non-consecutive president in American history. Frances also made history during his second term by giving birth to their daughter Esther, the first child of a president to be born in the White House.
When Grover’s second term ended in 1897, Frances personally said goodbye to each member of the staff, starting a tradition that endures to this day.
A Full And Active Life After The Presidency
After leaving the White House, Grover and Frances Cleveland settled down in Princeton, New Jersey. But their time together after the presidency was short-lived. In 1908, Grover died from a heart attack at the age of 71.
His widow, still in her mid-40s, subsequently married Thomas J. Preston Jr., professor of archaeology and acting president at Wells College, on February 10, 1913. The couple remained married until Frances’ death.
Wikimedia CommonsFrances Cleveland married Thomas J. Preston after Grover Cleveland died.
Though she had stayed out of politics during her time in the White House, Frances Cleveland became more political later in her life. When Europe plunged into World War I, she and her husband joined the National Security League and warned their countrymen to take the conflict seriously. Frances also spoke out against women’s suffrage and believed, according to The New York Times, that women were incapable of casting “intelligent” votes.
And in the end, Frances Cleveland remained loyal to her first husband. When she died on Oct. 29, 1947, at the age of 83, she was buried alongside Grover Cleveland in Princeton Cemetery.
After reading about the life of Frances Cleveland, discover these 37 facts about American first ladies. Then, learn about the story of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, the controversial wife of President Abraham Lincoln.
