Harriet Lane -The Greatest First Lady You Have Never Heard Of

Harriet Lane -The Greatest First Lady You Have Never Heard Of

When you think of  First Ladies, who combined great popularity with a long-lasting positive impact on the USA, certain names probably come to mind. Eleanor Roosevelt. Dolley Madison. Martha Washington. Jacqueline Kennedy. But today, I was hoping you could consider another name for that list.

Harriet Lane.

You are probably asking yourself… “Who is Harriet Lane?”  After all, we have never had a President named Lane!

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True enough. But when you hear about Harriet Lane’s contributions to America, you will understand why I consider Harriet Lane the most incredible First Lady you don’t know.

Bright, Caring, Thoughtful

Harriet Lane was the niece of Pres. James Buchanan. He holds two interesting historical records. First, James Buchanan is considered the worst president of all time. Secondly, many historians believe that he was our only homosexual president. Buchanan was a bachelor, the only president never to marry. The official story was that he never married due to his grief over the death of his fiancée, Ann Caroline Coleman. Today it is widely believed that she committed suicide. There are conflicting theories, but one of them is that his sexuality was the cause of her despair. When he became president, he asked his bright, caring, thoughtful niece, Harriet Lane, to serve as First Lady.

She was well-educated, charming, and spontaneous. Many men found her irresistible. Contemporaries described ‘Hal’ as tall, beautiful, and graceful, with blonde hair and violet eyes. Harriet Lane was devoted to her uncle and put off her marriage to help him. Buchanan’s disastrous administration had few bright spots. Harriet Lane proved to be the most brilliant. Like Frances Cleveland, another young and vibrant First Lady, she helped brighten the president’s image. (Interestingly, both women had masculine nicknames. Ms. Lane was known as Hal, and Ms. Cleveland was known as Frankie!)

Political divisions were deep and complex as the country approached the Civil War. Harriet Lane used great skill to arrange dinner parties in the White House, hoping to encourage conversation gently. She loved art, building a fantastic collection, and often hosting artists. Her thinking on Native American Indian affairs was very progressive for her time. However, Harriet Lane built an incredible legacy of charity, compassion, and culture in her years after the White House.

Compassion and Charity, Still Being Felt Today

Eventually, Harriet Lane did marry happily. However, she suffered an unbelievable amount of tragedy in a short period. Within four years, Harriet Lane lost her uncle, both of her sons, and her husband. It is a testament to Lane’s strength that she turned her pain into kindness. To this day, the USA benefits from her charity and compassion.

The Harriet Lane Clinic

The death of her two beloved teenage sons was an enormous tragedy. Determined to help save the lives of other children, she endowed a clinic to provide medical care for children and women. Using money she had inherited from her uncle and husband, she donated $10 million (in 2014 value) to establish what is today known as the Harriet Lane Clinic.

The clinic still serves women and children at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. Children in need of medical care in Baltimore can still receive first-class attention at one of the world’s most prestigious hospitals, thanks to the compassion of Harriet Lane.

I can only wonder how many of the staff, let alone the patients, know the history of the remarkable woman who endowed their clinic and graduate scholarships for interns in pediatrics and nursing.

THE HARRIET LANE HANDBOOK

The Harriet Lane Clinic famously publishes research annually on the latest advances in pediatric medicine. In her honor, it is still commonly referred to as the “Harriet Lane Handbook” and is widely available in print and online editions. It has been trusted for generations.

Education

Harriet Lane was a grand champion of education. One of her most generous and significant endowments was establishing what is today St. Albans School in Washington, DC. She wanted choirboys to receive a first-class education. Her endowment led to the building of the school, the establishment of the trust fund that provides scholarships even today, and the foundation of St. Albans School

as one of the most prestigious independent schools in America. The distinguished alums range from Britt Hume to Al Gore, astronaut Michael Collins to famed businessman J.W. Marriott. But it is in providing scholarships to underprivileged students that Harriet Lane’s compassion is most visible. The Lane-Johnston building is dedicated to the memory of her two sons. Rather than wallow in her grief after losing her husband and sons, she devoted herself to helping other mothers’ sons. How many other boys have been given a great opportunity in life because of Harriet Lane?

National Art Gallery

Harriet Lane loved art and wanted everyone, regardless of their level of income, to have access to the world’s great art. She urged the establishment of a national museum of art to be open to the public in Washington, DC. Today it is known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Three years after her death in 1903, Lane’s lovingly acquired art collection was donated to the nation’s enjoyment. Her generous donation and valuable collection encouraged other collectors to donate their works for the public’s enjoyment. Although few of her pieces are still on display, her spirit and vision for making art available to the public as a national priority is the source of great joy to endless streams of Americans who enjoy the breathtaking museum.

Harriet Lane – The Greatest First Lady You Have Never Heard Of

Well over 100 years after her death, Harriet Lane continues to make an invaluable impact on the lives of Americans. Pediatricians may not know who Harriet Lane was, but they still use her handbook. Sick children in Baltimore may not know who Harriet Lane was, but their lives are improved and sometimes saved by her generosity and compassion. Visitors to the Smithsonian American Art Museum may not know who Harriet Lane was, but they revel in the museum that grew from her vision. Perhaps it is only at St. Albans, the groundbreaking and influential private school she founded, that she is still well-remembered. Each year, on May 9, her legacy is remembered at the school with a celebration of flowers and gratitude.