Harriet Lane (1830-1903)

Mrs Harriet Rebecca (Lane) Johnston; Acting First Lady of the Unites States

Associated Houses

The White House

Washington D.C.

Wheatland

Lancaster Township

She acted for her uncle James Buchanan as an Ambassador's wife in London (where she was a favorite of Queen Victoria) and his First Lady in Washington. Before she was married, she lived with him at Wheatland when he described her as, "a wilful domestic outlaw". She married Baltimore banker and railroad promotor Henry Elliott Johnston and they had two children, both of whom predeceased her.
Contributed by Mark Meredith on 06/09/2022 and last updated on 06/09/2022.