Life span: 05/09/1830 to 07/03/1903TabsLife SummaryFull name: Harriet Lane JohnstonPlace of Birth: Mercersburg, PABurial Place: Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, MDBirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: FemaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: NorthOrigins: Free StateNo. of Spouses: 1No. of Children: 2Family: Elliott Tole Lane (father), Jane Buchanan (mother), Edward Y. Buchanan (uncle), James Buchanan (uncle), Henry Elliot Johnston (husband, 1866)Other Education: Academy of the Visitation Convent, District of ColumbiaOccupation: OtherOther Occupation: PhilanthropistRelation to Slavery: White non-slaveholderPolitical Parties: DemocraticGovernment: Buchanan Administration (1857-61)Census SnapshotChildren in 1860: 0Residence in 1860: White House, Washington, DCMarital status in 1860: SingleNote Cards Harriet Lane Johnston (American National Biography) ScholarshipBuchanan was elected president of the United States in 1856, and Harriet Lane became the first lady upon his inauguration. At age twenty-six, she added youth and grace to the White House and the capital cultural scene. She tried to imitate the standards she had experienced in Europe. Artists were always welcomed at the White House, and Harriet encouraged and supported their efforts to establish a national gallery of art. The president greeted a number of distinguished visitors to Washington, including Edward Albert, prince of Wales, in 1860. Harriet entertained him with dinners, receptions, dances, tours to patriotic sites, such as George Washington's tomb and home, and an excursion aboard the cutter Harriet Lane, named in honor of the president's niece. Many years later, when the prince became Edward VII, he invited Harriet to his coronation.Mary K. Dains, "Johnston, Harriet Lane," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/20/20-01368.html. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 10/05/1860 10/05/1860 The Prince of Wales visits the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon 01/11/1866 01/11/1866 Harriet Lane, former President Buchanan's "First Lady," marries Baltimore banker Henry Elliot JohnsonDocumentsImages Harriet Lane Johnston Harriet Lane Johnston, detail Harriet Lane Johnston, circa 1895 Bibliography
Harriet Lane Johnston (American National Biography) ScholarshipBuchanan was elected president of the United States in 1856, and Harriet Lane became the first lady upon his inauguration. At age twenty-six, she added youth and grace to the White House and the capital cultural scene. She tried to imitate the standards she had experienced in Europe. Artists were always welcomed at the White House, and Harriet encouraged and supported their efforts to establish a national gallery of art. The president greeted a number of distinguished visitors to Washington, including Edward Albert, prince of Wales, in 1860. Harriet entertained him with dinners, receptions, dances, tours to patriotic sites, such as George Washington's tomb and home, and an excursion aboard the cutter Harriet Lane, named in honor of the president's niece. Many years later, when the prince became Edward VII, he invited Harriet to his coronation.Mary K. Dains, "Johnston, Harriet Lane," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/20/20-01368.html.
