Abigail Fillmore

@First Lady of America, Timeline and Personal Life

Abigail Fillmore, wife of Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, was the First Lady of America from 1850 to 1853,

Mar 13, 1798

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Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: March 13, 1798
  • Died on: March 30, 1853
  • Nationality: American
  • Famous: First Lady of America, Miscellaneous, Educators, First Ladies
  • Spouses: Millard Fillmore
  • Siblings: Almorena Strong, Amos Strong, Benajah Strong Jr., David Powers, Mary Powers, Sally Strong, Salmon Strong, Simeon Prime Strong, Thankful Strong, Truman Strong
  • Childrens: Mary Abigail Fillmore, Millard Powers Fillmore

Abigail Fillmore born at

Saratoga County

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Birth Place

On February 5, 1826, she married Millard Fillmore and the couple settled in East Aurora, New York. She shared her husband's love of books and helped build their personal library.

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Personal Life

They were blessed with two children; a son, Millard Powers Fillmore, born in 1828 and a daughter, Mary Abigail Fillmore, born in 1832.

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Personal Life

At the outdoor inauguration of Franklin Pierce, Millard’s successor for the post of president, she caught a cold and soon came down with fever. Later, she contracted pneumonia and died on March 30, 1853 in Washington D.C.

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Personal Life

She was born on March 13, 1798 in Stillwater, New York to Reverend Lemuel Powers, a Baptist minister, and his wife, Abigail Newland Powers. She was the youngest of their seven children.

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Childhood & Early Life

Her father died shortly after her birth and due to financial crisis, her family moved westward. Her mother anticipated that with limited money, they would last longer in a less settled region.

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Childhood & Early Life

With the help of her late father’s personal library, her mother was able to provide for her education. Meanwhile Abigail was drawn towards books and reading which eventually developed into a lifelong love for learning.

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Childhood & Early Life

In 1814, she started out her career as a part-time teacher at the Sempronius village school. In 1817, after working as a part-time teacher for three years, she was employed as a full-time teacher. In 1819, she also started teaching at the newly opened New Hope Academy, New Hope.

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Later Life

In New Hope Academy, her eldest student was a young and ambitious teenager, Millard Fillmore. They both possessed a strong desire for learning and knowledge which brought them together. Gradually, they developed romantic feelings towards each other and became lovers.

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Later Life

In 1824, she privately tutored her three first cousins and soon her professional reputation earned her the opportunity to open a private school in Broome County. In 1825, she returned to Sempronius to resume her regular teaching.

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Later Life

Meanwhile Millard graduated and after apprenticing with a lawyer, he began a law practice in the nearby town of present-day East Aurora. In 1826, after a long courtship, they were married at the home of the bride's brother, Judge Powers, in Moravia, New York.

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Later Life

The couple settled in East Aurora, New York, and she continued to work as an educator for more than a year until the birth of their first child in the summer of 1828.

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Later Life

This First Lady had the shortest post-Presidential life of any former First Lady. She died just 26 days after leaving the White House.

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Trivia