Angelica Van Buren
Encyclopedia
Angelica Singleton Van Buren, born Sarah Angelica Singleton (February 13, 1818 – December 29, 1877) was the daughter-in-law of the 8th United States
President Martin Van Buren
. She was married to the President's son, Abraham Van Buren
. She assumed the post of First Lady
because the president's wife had died 17 years earlier and he remained unwed throughout the rest of his life.
Sarah Angelica Singleton was born in Wedgefield, South Carolina
, the daughter of Richard Singleton and his wife, Rebecca Travis Coles. She was a cousin of William C. Preston
and of Dolley Madison
.
Raised in high society, Angelica brought an air of sophistication to her role as first lady. She married Abraham Van Buren on November 27, 1838, in Wedgefield, and the following New Year's Day, she assumed the duties of hostess at the White House. In the spring of 1839, the couple took an extended trip through England (where her uncle Andrew Stevenson
was U.S. minister) and other European countries. When they returned that autumn, she resumed the duties of White House hostess for the rest of her father-in-law's presidency.
After Martin was defeated for re-election in 1841, Angelica and her husband lived at the Van Buren home of Lindenwald, in Kinderhook, NY
, wintering at her family home in South Carolina. From 1848 until her death, she lived in New York City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
. She was married to the President's son, Abraham Van Buren
Abraham Van Buren
Abraham Van Buren was the eldest son of the eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren and his wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren. Born in Kinderhook, New York, Abraham was named in honor of his paternal grandfather who was an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War...
. She assumed the post of First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
because the president's wife had died 17 years earlier and he remained unwed throughout the rest of his life.
Sarah Angelica Singleton was born in Wedgefield, South Carolina
Wedgefield, South Carolina
Wedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a "wedge" into the High Hills of Santee...
, the daughter of Richard Singleton and his wife, Rebecca Travis Coles. She was a cousin of William C. Preston
William C. Preston
William Campbell Preston was a senator from the United States and a member of the Nullifier, and later Whig Parties...
and of Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison
Dolley Payne Todd Madison was the spouse of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, and was First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817...
.
Raised in high society, Angelica brought an air of sophistication to her role as first lady. She married Abraham Van Buren on November 27, 1838, in Wedgefield, and the following New Year's Day, she assumed the duties of hostess at the White House. In the spring of 1839, the couple took an extended trip through England (where her uncle Andrew Stevenson
Andrew Stevenson
Andrew Stevenson was a Democratic politician in the United States. Educated at the College of William and Mary, he married three times. His second wife, Sarah Coles, was a cousin of Dolley Madison and sister of Edward Coles, a governor of Illinois...
was U.S. minister) and other European countries. When they returned that autumn, she resumed the duties of White House hostess for the rest of her father-in-law's presidency.
After Martin was defeated for re-election in 1841, Angelica and her husband lived at the Van Buren home of Lindenwald, in Kinderhook, NY
Kinderhook (town), New York
Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,296 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers . The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also...
, wintering at her family home in South Carolina. From 1848 until her death, she lived in New York City.
See also
- Singleton's GraveyardSingleton's GraveyardSingleton's Graveyard is an historic plantation cemetery located off SC 261 in the High Hills of Santee six miles south of Wedgefield, South Carolina in the United States. On May 13, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
, her family's plantation cemetery near Wedgefield, South CarolinaWedgefield, South CarolinaWedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a "wedge" into the High Hills of Santee...
External links
- Angelica Van Buren biography at American Presidents Blog