As we have noted elsewhere, Millard Fillmore has somehow failed to achieve a revered place in history, despite having served as the thirteenth President of the United States. The thing for which he is most often remembered isn’t even true.

We should have mentioned that his wife didn’t fare much better. Sadly, Abigail Powers Fillmore might best be remembered as the first First Lady to have been killed by a President.

Before we get to that, we should mention one of Abigail’s more noteworthy achievements. As a lifelong bookworm, it bothered her that the White House’s library did not reflect her love of literature. She took it upon herself to change that so she would not have to live in a house without plenty of books. She established the first White House Library. Her passion for literacy foreshadowed that of a couple of her successors, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush.

All of that reading gave Abigail a keen mind. Her husband frequently sought her advice on the complex issues of the day. Unfortunately, her health prevented her from participating in a larger role. Several chronic illnesses and an injured ankle limited her travel and hindered her social calender.

Her ailments did not stop her from earning the distinction of becoming the first First Lady to attend the inauguration of her successor. On March 4, 1853, she was at the U.S. Capitol to witness the transfer of power from her husband to the new President, Franklin Pierce and to hand over the title of First Lady to Jane Pierce.

Unfortunately, although no one knew it at the time, she also became the first First Lady to be killed by a President.

Twelve years earlier at William Henry Harrison’s inauguration, the President spoke for so long in the bitter cold that he got sick and died one month later. No one ever accused politicians of being good students of history. Pierce delivered his inaugural address at the East Portico of the Capitol Building. The weather was recorded as being light snow and wind with heavier snow during the Inaugural address. The estimated temperature at noon was 35°F (2°C). His speech, with 3,336 words, was the 12th longest of the 59 inaugural addresses (as of 2021) — nearly 1,000 words greater than the average inaugural address.

Although Pierce emerged from the ceremony apparently none the worse for wear, the same cannot be said for the outgoing First Lady. She developed a chill that quickly became a severe cold. The cold developed into acute bronchitis, ultimately turning into pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical quacks most qualified physicians of the day, the cupping and blistering techniques failed to drive the pneumonia away. Abigail Fillmore passed away on March 30, 1853, at the age of 55.

Franklin Pierce’s presidency would be plagued by countless problems. One notable scandal occurred when he drunkenly drove a carriage over an elderly woman. Then again, what should you expect from a President who started his tenure in office by killing the wife of his predecessor?

---