This Day in History: First and only president ever to...

Did you know that a U.S. president once got married in the White House?

That's right.

On this day in 1886, President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) became the first sitting president to marry in the executive mansion.

Cleveland entered the White House as a bachelor and left a married man and father of two. His new wife was Frances Folsom, a gorgeous young woman 27 years his junior. Cleveland had literally known Frances, the daughter of a former law partner and Cleveland’s legal ward, since she was born. When she was 11, Frances’ father died and Cleveland became her legal guardian, maintaining close ties with her mother. People thought Cleveland would marry his friend’s widow and were taken aback when he instead married Frances as soon as she turned 21.

In another White House first, Frances and Cleveland’s second daughter Esther had the distinction of being first child born to a president in a White House bedroom.

Cleveland's pet name for Frances was Frank.

It must have been quite a spectacle for guests to witness the president of the United States getting married in the White House. Cleveland was a little late to the aisle, but better late than never, right? Who knows -- we may just witness a future president follow suit in the years ahead.

Did you know that a president had gotten married in the White House?

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