The spouse of the governor of Michigan is given an honorary position, styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Michigan. First spouses typically fill ceremonial roles, by acting as the official hostess/host. In this role, they often entertain dignitaries and prepare meetings, parties, and dinners. While the role is generally held by the spouse of the governor, if the governor is unmarried, like in the case of Frank Murphy, sometimes a relative, such as a sister, assumes the role.
First spouses Name Took office Left office Governor Ref.Emily V. MasonEmily V. Mason was the sister of Governor Mason. She served as official hostess until Governor Mason first married on November 1, 1838.18351838Stevens T. MasonJulia Phelps Mason18381840Juliana Trumbull Woodbridge 1840 1841 William WoodbridgeMary Hudun Gordon 1841 1841 James Wright GordonMary Kidder "Polly" Barry 1842 1846 John S. BarryLucretia Williams Lawrence Felch 1846 1847 Alpheus FelchElizabeth W. Hubbard Greeley 1847 1847 William L. GreenlyAlmira Caldwell Ransom 1848 1850 Epaphroditus RansomMary Kidder "Polly" Barry 1850 1851 John S. BarryElizabeth Sarah Sabin McClelland 18521853 Robert McClellandAnna Marilla Ferrand Stewart Parsons 18531854 Andrew ParsonsMary Warden Bingham 1855 1858 Kinsley S. BinghamAngeolina H. Wisner 1859 1860 Moses WisnerSarah Louisa Horton Ford Blair 1861 1864 Austin Blair Mary Ann Slocum Crapo 1865 1868 Henry H. Crapo Sibyl Lambard BaldwinAlso spelled Sibyle Lombard Baldwin. 1869 1872 Henry P. Baldwin Frances Elizabeth Newberry Bagley 1873 1876 John J. Bagley Elizabeth Musgrave CroswellElizabeth Musgrave and Charles Croswell married after Croswell was elected governor. At the beginning of his term, Croswell was an unmarried widower. 1878 1880 Charles Croswell Lucy Amelia Peck Jerome 1881 1882 David Jerome Harriet Annette Miles Begole 1883 1884 Josiah Begole Annette Huldana Squire Henry Alger 1885 1886 Russell A. Alger Mary Eliza Brown Thompson Luce 1887 1890 Cyrus G. LuceElizabeth Galloway Winans 1891 1892 Edwin B. Winans Lucretia W. Rich 1893 1896 John T. RichFrances A. Gilbert Pingree 1897 1900 Hazen S. Pingree Allaseba Morey Phelps Bliss 1901 1904 Aaron T. BlissMartha M. Davis Warner 1905 1910 Fred M. Warner Lillian Gertrude Jones Osborn 1911 1912 Chase OsbornHelen G. Ferris 1913 1916 Woodbridge N. Ferris Mary Charlotte Moore Sleeper 1917 1920 Albert Sleeper VacantGovernor Groesbeck was a bachelor. 1921 1926 Alex J. Groesbeck Helen Adelaide Kelly Green 1927 1930 Fred W. Green Clara Hantel Brucker 1931 1932 Wilber M. BruckerMary Josephine White Comstock 1933 1934 William Comstock Queena Maud Warner Fitzgerald 1935 1936 Frank Fitzgerald Marguerite Murphy TeahanMarguerite Murphy Teahan was Governor Murphy's sister. She served as his hostess because Governor Murphy was a bachelor. 1937 1938 Frank Murphy Queena Maud Warner Fitzgerald 1939 1939 Frank Fitzgerald Zora Della Cooley DickinsonZora C. Dickinson died on August 4, 1940, while her husband was still governor, leaving the position of first lady vacant for the rest of his governorship. She is the only First Lady of Michigan to have died in office. 1939 1940 Luren Dickinson Helen Josephine Jossman Van Wagoner 1941 1942 Murray Van Wagoner Anne Veronica O'Brien Kelly 1943 1946 Harry KellyMae Louise Pierson Sigler 1947 1948 Kim Sigler Nancy Lace Quirk Williams 1949 1960 G. Mennen Williams Alice Nielsen Swainson 1961 1962 John Swainson Lenore LaFount Romney 1963 1969 George W. Romney Helen Wallbank Milliken 1969 1982 William Milliken Paula Lynne Parker BlanchardPaula L. Blanchard and Governor Blanchard divorced in 1987. Governor Blanchard is the only Michigan governor to divorce while in office. 1983 1987 James Blanchard Janet A. BlanchardJanet A. Blanchard and Governor Blanchard married on September 2, 1989. Between Governor Blanchard's remarriage, and his divorce with Paula L. Blanchard, the position of first lady was vacant. 1989 1990 Michelle DeMunbrun Engler 1991 2002 John EnglerDaniel Granholm MulhernDaniel G. Mulhern was the first man to take the role of First Spouse of Michigan. 2003 2010 Jennifer Granholm Sue Snyder 2011 2018 Rick Snyder Marc P. Mallory 2019 Present Gretchen Whitmer
See also List of governors of Michigan
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