1830 – 1903

Harriet Lane

First Lady of the United States from 1857 to 1861

Born

1830-05-09, Mercersburg

Died

1903-07-03

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

Harriet Lane was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, on May 9, 1830, and died on July 3, 1903. She acted as first lady during her uncle James Buchanan's presidency from 1857 to 1861, serving as a diplomatic hostess whose clothing styles were copied. In her will, she provided funds for a school on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral, and several ships, including the cutter USCGC Harriet Lane, were named after her.

Connections to Pennsylvania

Harriet Lane was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in 1830. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›

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Everything a full report reveals about Mercersburg

Harriet Lane came from Mercersburg. A full Aubrey report on Mercersburg pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

Joe Biden

46th President of the United States (2021–2025)

Noam Chomsky

American linguist and activist (born 1928)

Andy Warhol

American artist, film director, and producer (1928–1987)

James Buchanan

president of the United States from 1857 to 1861

Grace Kelly

American actress and Princess consort of Monaco (1929–1982)

Kobe Bryant

American basketball player (1978–2020)

Louisa May Alcott

American novelist (1832–1888)

Frequently asked about Harriet Lane

Who was Harriet Lane?

Harriet Lane was First Lady of the United States from 1857 to 1861, born in Pennsylvania (1830 – 1903).

When and where was Harriet Lane born?

Harriet Lane was born on 1830-05-09 in Mercersburg.

When did Harriet Lane die?

Harriet died on 1903-07-03.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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