Eliza McCardle Johnson

Eliza McCardle Johnson
Official portrait, as engraved 1883
First Lady of the United States
In role April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
President	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Mary Todd Lincoln
Succeeded by	Julia Grant
Second Lady of the United States
In role March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865
Vice President	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Ellen Hamlin
Succeeded by	Ellen Colfax
First Lady of Tennessee
In role October 17, 1853 – November 3, 1857
Governor	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Frances Owen
Succeeded by	Martha Mariah Travis
In role March 12, 1862 – March 4, 1865
Governor	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Martha Mariah Travis
Succeeded by	Eliza O'Brien
Personal details
Born	Eliza McCardle (1810-10-04)October 4, 1810 Telford, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	January 15, 1876(1876-01-15) (aged 65) Greeneville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting place	Andrew Johnson National Cemetery Greeneville, Tennessee
Spouse	Andrew Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1827; died 1875)​
Children	Martha Charles Mary Robert Andrew Jr.
Signature

This article is part of a series about Andrew Johnson
Early life Andrew Johnson and slavery Legacy Bibliography 15th Governor of Tennessee Governorship 16th Vice President of the United States Vice presidency Drunk V.P. inaugural address Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 17th President of the United States Presidency Inauguration Foreign policy Cabinet appointment Judicial appointment Conclusion of Civil War Reconstruction era Reconstruction Acts Civil Rights Act (1866) Swing Around the Circle Impeachment First inquiry Second inquiry Trial Managers investigation Efforts Timeline Articles of impeachment Vice presidential and Presidential campaigns 1864 National Union national convention election 1868 Democratic National Convention Post-presidency Return to Senate Death Cemetery Historic Site Family Eliza McCardle Johnson Martha Johnson Patterson Charles Johnson Mary Johnson Stover Robert Johnson Frank Johnson
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Eliza Johnson (née McCardle; October 4, 1810 – January 15, 1876) was the first lady of the United States from 1865 to 1869 as the wife of President Andrew Johnson. She also served as the second lady of the United States March 1865 until April 1865 when her husband was vice president. Johnson was relatively inactive as first lady, and she stayed out of public attention for the duration of her husband's presidency. She was the youngest first lady to wed, doing so at the age of 16.

Johnson significantly contributed to her husband's early career, providing him with an education and encouraging him to strengthen his oratory skills and seek office. Johnson did not participate in the social aspects of politics, however, remaining at home while her husband took office. During the American Civil War, she was forced from her home for her family's Unionist loyalties. She was affected by tuberculosis throughout much of her life, and what activity she did choose to undertake was limited due to her health.

Johnson was briefly the second lady of the United States before becoming the first lady, as her husband was vice president until the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. After becoming the first lady, Johnson delegated the role's social duties to her daughter Martha Johnson Patterson. Though she only made two public appearances during her tenure as first lady, Johnson was a strong influence on her husband, and he would consult her regularly for advice. Johnson returned to her home of Greeneville, Tennessee with her family after leaving the White House, living a quiet retirement. She died six months after her husband and was buried beside him.