Abigail Adams became First Lady when John Adams was inaugurated as President.
On March 4, 1797, Abigail Adams became the First Lady of the United States, as her husband, John Adams, was inaugurated as the second president. During her tenure from 1797 to 1801, Abigail set a precedent for the role by actively involving herself in the political discourse of the nation. Despite societal expectations of women at the time, she maintained an active correspondence with numerous influential figures and provided her husband with significant political advice, making her an unofficial advisor during one of the most turbulent times in American politics.