Lucy Webb Hayes

Lucy Webb Hayes
Official portrait, c. 1877–1889
First Lady of the United States
In role
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
PresidentRutherford B. Hayes
Preceded byJulia Dent Grant
Succeeded byLucretia Rudolph Garfield
First Lady of Ohio
In role
January 10, 1876 – March 2, 1877
GovernorRutherford B. Hayes
Preceded byMargaret Noyes
Succeeded bySarah Young
In role
January 12, 1868 – January 8, 1872
GovernorRutherford B. Hayes
Preceded byHelen Cox
Succeeded byMargaret Noyes
Personal details
BornLucy Ware Webb
(1831-08-28)August 28, 1831
DiedJune 25, 1889(1889-06-25) (aged 57)
Resting placeSpiegel Grove
PartyRepublican
Spouse
(m. 1852)
Children8, including Webb and Rutherford
RelativesMargaret Hayes Clark (great-granddaughter)
EducationOhio Wesleyan University (BA)
Signature
Nickname"Lemonade Lucy"
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Lucy Ware Hayes (née Webb; August 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889) was the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes and served as the 19th first lady of the United States from 1877 to 1881. Opposed to alcohol, she never served it in the White House, a move that was highly controversial. She died of a stroke aged 57 after her husband's presidency. She was also, while her husband was governor, First Lady of Ohio. She served in this position two non-consecutive times, from 1868 to 1872, and again from 1876 until 1877, when her husband was elected as President of the United States. He resigned the governorship effective March 2, 1877, and was sworn in in the next day.

Hayes was the first First Lady to have a college degree. She was also a more egalitarian hostess than previous First Ladies. An advocate for African Americans both before and after the American Civil War, she invited the first African-American professional musician to appear at the White House. She was a Past Grand of Lincoln Rebekah Lodge, a body of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, the women's auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, together with her husband.

Historians have christened her "Lemonade Lucy" due to her staunch support of the temperance movement. However, contrary to popular belief, she was never referred to by that nickname while living. It was her husband who banned alcohol from the White House.