Florence Harding

Florence Mabel Harding (née Kling; August 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924) was First Lady of the United States from 1921 until the death of her second husband, President Warren G. Harding, in 1923. She had initially studied to be a concert pianist before eloping with her first husband Henry DeWolfe in 1880, and having a son with him named Marshall Eugene DeWolfe. The couple divorced in 1886, and Florence remarried to Warren G. Harding in 1891, and began working with him in running The Marion Star. They remained married until his death in 1923, despite his frequent infidelity leading Florence to consider divorce more than once. Harding was very supportive of her second husband's political career, and helped advise him on his political options. As First Lady, she was the most visible to hold the role in decades. Harding was outspoken in her views on women's rights, animal rights, and prohibition. She also worked to protect her and her husband's images. Harding suffered from severe kidney ailments for most of her adult life. She died of kidney failure in 1924.