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Harriet Lane, America's First Lady
She was the niece of America’s Bachelor President and his official hostess in Lancaster, London and Washington. Anyone who met her was instantly enamored. Queen Victoria bestowed upon her the title “Honorary Ambassadress.” The Washington press corps proclaimed her “Our Democratic Queen.” She was the first White House Hostess to be called “First Lady.” Ships were named after her. Songs were written about her. Women dressed like her. She was the most admired woman in the country and established a style of entertaining never before seen in the White House. And only she could get away with beating the Prince of Wales at bowling! Her life was marked by tragedy, yet she lived every day to the fullest. Her legacy lives on in Baltimore and Washington through a pediatric hospital, a school for boys, a museum of art, and a monument to James Buchanan. Thanks to her beauty, charm, and generosity of spirit, America’s First Lady will always be Harriet Lane.
223 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 3, 2015
Harriet Lane 1830-1903) acted as First Lady for her uncle President James Buchanan. James Buchanan became her legal guardian after the death of her parents when she was eleven years old. James Buchanan was a bachelor.
In 1854 she joined Buchanan in London, England where he was minister to the Court of St. James. She was acting as his hostess; therefore Queen Victoria gave her the rank of Ambassador’s wife.
In 1857 she took over the role as First Lady for the Buchanan presidency. Lane used her position to promote social causes, such as improving the living conditions of Native Americans on reservations. She was a very popular First Lady at the time and is compared in popularity to Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s. She was a popular and extremely diplomatic hostess at presidential dinners and events. The presidential yacht was named for her.
She did not marry until long after she was the First Lady. She was 36 years old when she married Henry Elliott Johnston a Baltimore Banker.
After her death, she left a sizable art collection to the Smithsonian Institution. She endowed a home for invalid children at John Hopkins Hospital which is still in use today as well as a pediatric outpatient clinic in her name. The University named a pediatric manual after her called the “Harriet Lane Handbook.” She had a school building built next to the Washington National Cathedral called the Lane-Johnston Building. She founded the St. Albans School for boys. The U.S. Coast Guard has had three cutters named for her over the years, the first one in 1857, the second in 1926 and the third in 1984 still in service today.
She was buried at the Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.
This is a short book of 224 pages and reads more like an article or research paper than a book. I did find the information provided most interesting.
In 1854 she joined Buchanan in London, England where he was minister to the Court of St. James. She was acting as his hostess; therefore Queen Victoria gave her the rank of Ambassador’s wife.
In 1857 she took over the role as First Lady for the Buchanan presidency. Lane used her position to promote social causes, such as improving the living conditions of Native Americans on reservations. She was a very popular First Lady at the time and is compared in popularity to Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s. She was a popular and extremely diplomatic hostess at presidential dinners and events. The presidential yacht was named for her.
She did not marry until long after she was the First Lady. She was 36 years old when she married Henry Elliott Johnston a Baltimore Banker.
After her death, she left a sizable art collection to the Smithsonian Institution. She endowed a home for invalid children at John Hopkins Hospital which is still in use today as well as a pediatric outpatient clinic in her name. The University named a pediatric manual after her called the “Harriet Lane Handbook.” She had a school building built next to the Washington National Cathedral called the Lane-Johnston Building. She founded the St. Albans School for boys. The U.S. Coast Guard has had three cutters named for her over the years, the first one in 1857, the second in 1926 and the third in 1984 still in service today.
She was buried at the Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.
This is a short book of 224 pages and reads more like an article or research paper than a book. I did find the information provided most interesting.
January 9, 2018
2013-09 – Harriet Lane, America's First Lady. Milton Stern (Author). 2005. 223 Pages
Great lady … still important and relevant today because of her philanthropy. One of the few books available about her but felt rushed. Interestingly her will and her uncle’s (POTUS Buchanan) wills were quite fascinating to read and revealed a lot about them as people.
Great lady … still important and relevant today because of her philanthropy. One of the few books available about her but felt rushed. Interestingly her will and her uncle’s (POTUS Buchanan) wills were quite fascinating to read and revealed a lot about them as people.
May 3, 2018
Although I wish the author had written in greater detail about Harriet Lane the book was an interesting read. My First Ladies book club agreed we would have loved to have attended one of her parties. Annex A about "The effects of US history on Harriet Lane's Seating Arrangement" and the time line leading up to the Civil War was incredibly well done!
Read
March 20, 2024The only nonfiction book about one of the most impactful first ladies. Loved learning more about the amazing Harriet Lane.
July 30, 2007
I read this book for a newspaper article I was doing on the woman who served as first lady to America's only bachelor president (and the only Pennsylvanian to serve as president), James Buchanan. I thought her life was interesting, particularly in the way she exerted power during a time when it was difficult for women to do so. But as a piece of historical research and writing, this book left a lot to be desired. It's tone is more People magazine than well-crafted biography.
December 22, 2015
I was intrigued by Lane's role as first lady but Stern did not do her justice. This biography comes across as a collection of facts rather than a cohesive piece. I know the research may be limited but Stern skipped over huge parts of Lane's life and barely gets into any specifics. I was hoping for way more.
Want to Read
September 7, 2007As soon as I find this book, I'm reading it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews