Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur
(1837-1880)
| Occupation |
U.S. First Lady (Died before serving) |
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1837 |
| Date of Death | January 12, 1880 |
| Place of Birth | Culpepper, VA |
| Place of Death | New York, NY |
| Nickname | "Nell" |
| Parents |
|
| Spouses | Chester A. Arthur |
| Number of Children | Three |
Born in Virginia in 1837, Ellen Lewis Herndon was the daughter of Amazon explorer William Lewis Herndon. She married Chester A. Arthur in 1859, but would not live to see her husband's vice presidency or presidency. Ellen died on January 12, 1880, and her husband won election as vice president with running mate James Garfield later that year. When President Garfield was assassinated in 1881, Arthur became president. His sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, served as White House hostess during his time in office. Though Ellen Arthur did not live to serve as first lady, she has been honorably credited with the role.
The First Ladies of the United States of America by