Mary McElroy

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Mary Arthur McElroy (July 5, 1841 - January 8, 1917) was the sister of 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur. She acted as the First Lady of the United States from 1881 to 1885. She had to take up the role of the First Lady as the President’s wife, Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, had died about one and half year earlier.

Her birthplace is Greenwich, New York. Her parents were William and Malvina S. Arthur. Her parents had nine children, and Mary was the last. In 1880, her brother became the Vice President of the United States. In July 1881, an assassin shot the president James Garfield. The president died on 19th September 1881. Mary’s brother Chester A. Arthur became the president of the United States. His brother asked her to take up the role of the First Lady.

She held many functions in the White House. She also took help of previous former First Ladies Julia Tyler and Harriet Lane (James Buchanan's niece) in many functions at the White House.

When her brother retired as the President, Mary went to live in Albany, New York. She died at the age of 75 in Albany.