Maria Hester Monroe: The First Daughter Wedding

Maria Hester Monroe was the first daughter of a President to be married in the White House.

Maria Hester

Maria (pronounced Mar-IAH) Hester was born in 1803, seventeen years after her only sibling, Eliza. Due to the difference in their ages, the two were never close.

Also, due to the age difference, Maria was never afforded the aristocratic-style European education that her sister received when her father was serving abroad. The Monroes had returned to America shortly after Maria was born. 

Nevertheless, Maria received a fine American education, and was fourteen when her father was elected President. Washington was no novelty to her; Madison cabinet member James Monroe and his family lived in or near the capital for several years, but remained socially remote. 

The only likeness of Maria Hester is a conventional head-and-shoulders portrait, which appears to resemble her father. A…