Wife of President Herbert Hoover

Born: March 29, 1874 Died: January 7, 1944

Lou Henry was born in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Delano and Florence Henry. In her youth, Lou's family moved to Monterey, California. At the age of nineteen, Lou attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, California where she met Herbert Hoover, on a geology field trip. Hoover was already a graduate of Stanford University.

Hoover then went to Australia to manage gold mines. Over three years later he sent a cable message to Lou, proposing marriage. Lou accepted the proposal by return cable. Upon Hoover's return to Monterey, they were married on February 10, 1899. The day after their wedding they left for China as Hoover had accepted a position as chief engineer of the Imperial Bureau of Mines. From China they lived in London, where their two children, Herbert, Jr., and Allen Henry were born. From time to time they would return to their home in Monterey, or their home at Stanford University.

During World War I, the Hoover's lived in London and spent much of their time working toward the war effort and heading various food programs. When conditions became dangerous because of the war, Herbert sent Lou and the children back to Monterey. President Wilson, upon the United States entering the war, made Hoover the food administrator.

During his Presidency both Herbert and Lou worked tirelessly creating various food relief organizations. They are more known for their humanitarian efforts then for their work as President and First Lady.

Lou Hoover died of a heart attack on January 7, 1944.

Copyright © 1990-2022 by John T. Marck. All Rights Reserved. This article and their accompanying pictures, photographs, and line art, may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author. From The First Ladies of the United States by John T. Marck.