Hannah Van Buren

ChildrenAbraham Van Buren II, John Van Buren, Martin Van Buren Jr., Smith Thompson Van Buren

Hannah Hoes Van Buren (born Hoes; March 8, 1783 – February 5, 1819) was the wife of the eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren. Very little is known about her; she died from tuberculosis in 1819, before Martin Van Buren became president. He never remarried and was one of the few Presidents to be unmarried while in office.

Marriage and children

Hannah Hoes married her childhood friend and cousin Martin Van Buren in 1807 when they were both 24. She gave birth to five children, one of whom died in infancy.^[1]

Death

She passed away from tuberculosis on February 5, 1819, at the age of 35. During Van Buren's term, his daughter-in-law Angelica acted as hostess of the White House and First Lady of the United States. When writing his autobiography, he didn't mention his wife once, possibly to shield her from public references.^[1]

Further reading

• Biography of Hannah Hoes Van Buren at whitehouse.gov
• Hannah Van Buren at C-SPAN's First Ladies: Influence & Image

References