User:DavidVolonte/sandbox/First Ladies and Gentlemen of New Jersey

The first lady of New Jersey is the title held by the hostess of Drumthwacket, usually the spouse of the serving Governor of New Jersey. Tammy Murphy is the current first lady, having served in the capacity since her husband Phil Murphy's inauguration on January 16, 2018.

There are currently five living former first ladies: Lucinda Florio, Diane DiFrancesco, Mary Jo Codey, Dina Matos, and Mary Pat Christie. There is also at least 1 former acting first lady, Peg Bennett.

Colonial First Ladies
The position of first lady dates back to the colony of the New Netherlands, the earliest European settlement in modern day New Jersey. However, records for many of these early first ladies are inconclusive. During the same time period, Sweden founded a colony in Southern New Jersey, composing areas of present day Salem and Gloucester counties. The colony ended in 1655, with Dutch Director of New Netherlands Peter Stuyvesant forcing New Sweden's surrender, although the colonists enjoyed autonomy until 1681.

In 1634, the relatively obscure charter of New Albion was formed, and from that point onward an English colony existed in New Jersey in one way or another, until the American Revolution. As such, many of these colonial first ladies were noblewomen, including Katherine Hyde, Viscountess Cornbury and 8th Baroness Clifton, who was wife of the famous Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon.

Notable first ladies include:


 * Judith Bayard Stuyvesant, wife of Director of New Netherland Peter Stuyvesant, member of the Bayard family.
 * Armegot Printz Papegoja, wife and daughter of New Sweden governors Johan Papegoja and Johan Björnsson Printz, respectively.
 * Isabella Graham Morris, wife of Colonial Governor Lewis Morris, and daughter of New York politician James Graham.
 * Amelia Offley Bernard, Lady Bernard, wife of Sir Francis Bernard, niece of Massachusetts Governor Samuel Shute.

Modern Era
In the second half of 20th century and into the 21st, the role of First Lady shifted, following a pattern reflected in other US states and across. Since 1985, the National Governors Association has encouraged governors' spouses to lead an initiative.

In 1993, New Jersey elected Christine Todd Whitman its first, and to date only, female governor. This made her husband John Whitman the first First Gentlemen of New Jersey. Whitman did not play a major or front-and-center part in his wife's governorship, instead serving as an unofficial financial ambassador on behalf of the Whitman administration.

First Lady Mary Jo Codey advocated for mental health, based on her personal experience with postpartum depression. Since leaving office, she and her husband, Governor Richard Codey founded The Codey Fund for Mental Health, focusing on accessible healthcare and the destigmatization of mental health.