Ellen Arthur Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Ellen Arthur
OCCUPATION: U.S. First Lady
BIRTH DATE: August 30, 1837
DEATH DATE: January 12, 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH: Culpeper, Virginia

PLACE OF DEATH: New York, New York
Maiden Name: Ellen Lewis Herndon
Nickname: Nell

more about Ellen

Best Known For

Ellen Arthur was married to Chester A. Arthur when he became Vice President in 1881, but died before Garfield's assassination would have made her First Lady.

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Ellen Arthur

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Synopsis

Ellen Lewis Herndon was the daughter of Amazon explorer William Lewis Herndon. In 1859, she married Chester A. Arthur. Her husband won the election of 1880 with running mate James Garfield, but Ellen did not live to see him sworn in as Vice President. In September 1881, Garfield was assassinated and Arthur assumed the office. His sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, served as White House hostess.

Profile

(born August 30, 1837, Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.—died January 12, 1880, New York, New York) wife of Chester A. Arthur, 21st president of the United States. She never served as first lady because she died of pneumonia before her husband assumed office. The president's sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, acted as White House hostess.

Ellen Lewis Herndon was the daughter of naval officer William Lewis Herndon, who explored the Amazon River and was one of the founders of the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. In 1856 a cousin introduced Ellen to Arthur, and they married on October 25, 1859. Their first son, born in 1860, died within three years. The couple had two more children—a son in 1864 and a daughter in 1871. The family was prosperous and liked to entertain guests in their fashionable New York City home.

With the election of 1880, Arthur became vice president on the Republican ticket of James A. Garfield. Ellen died shortly thereafter and was buried in Albany, New York. In September 1881 Garfield was assassinated and Arthur assumed the office. As a widower, he asked his sister to welcome guests at the White House and to help raise his children.