Frances Cleveland

Frances Cleveland
1886 portrait
First Lady of the United States
In role March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Mary Harrison McKee (acting)
Succeeded by	Ida Saxton McKinley
In role June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Rose Cleveland (acting)
Succeeded by	Caroline Harrison
Personal details
Born	Frances Clara Folsom (1864-07-21)July 21, 1864 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	October 29, 1947(1947-10-29) (aged 83) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place	Princeton Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Grover Cleveland ​ ​ (m. 1886; died 1908)​ Thomas Preston ​ (m. 1913)​
Children	Ruth Esther Marion Richard Francis
Education	Wells College (BA)
Signature

Frances Clara Cleveland Preston (née Folsom, christened Frank Clara; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was the First Lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 until 1897, as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. She is the only first lady in U.S. history to have served in the role during two non-consecutive terms.

Folsom met Grover Cleveland while she was an infant, as he was a friend of her father, Oscar Folsom. When her father died in 1875, Grover became the executor of her father's estate. He took care of Oscar's outstanding financial debts and provided for the well-being of Frances and her mother Emma. She was educated at Wells College, and after graduating she married Grover while he was the incumbent president. When her husband lost reelection in 1888, they went into private life for four years and began having children. They returned to the White House when her husband was elected again in 1892, but much of her time in the second term was dedicated to her children.

The Clevelands had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood. Cleveland became involved in education advocacy, serving on the Wells College board, supporting women's education, and organizing the construction of kindergartens. She was widowed in 1908, and she married Thomas J. Preston Jr. in 1913. Cleveland-Preston continued to work in education activism after leaving the White House, becoming involved with Princeton University. During World War I, she advocated military preparedness. She died in 1947 and was buried alongside her first husband in Princeton Cemetery.