 |
Angelica
Singleton Van Buren - for Van Buren
Date of Birth: Feb 13, 1818
Date of Death: Dec 29, 1877
Age at death: 59
Married: Nov 27, 1838 to Martin Van Buren, Jr.
Hostess for Martin Van Buren
Children: 4 |
 |
- Survived by her husband and four sons,
Hannah Van Buren died 19 years before Martin became president
in 1837
- Van Buren was rumored to have many
flirtations with prominent women in Washington, but remained
unwed, and entered the White House with no official hostess
- In the first year of his administration
his son Abraham wed Angelica Singleton, a cousin of Dolley Madison
- Raised in high society, the daughter
of a wealthy Southern merchant, Angelica brought an air of sophistication
to her role
- In 1839 she became the first Hostess,
or First Lady, to tour Europe
- Angelica often imitated European monarchy
by greeting visitors to the White House seated on a dais surrounded
by women, while wearing an elegant headdress with flowers pluming
form the top
- Although she never intended as such,
her mode of dress was the subject of conversation throughout
the capital, especially her introduction of the Hoop Skirt in
1838
|
|
|