Madeline Pelouard

Madeline Pelouard was born in France around 1852 and immigrated to the United States with her husband Marcel in 1883.¹ According to newspapers, Pelouard worked as a cook for politician and historian George Bancroft and at the British Legation in Washington, D.C. before being hired at the White House in April 1889. Her husband, Marcel, was also promised a role on staff as butler to begin August 1 of that year.² However, on June 13, 1889, the Harrisons dismissed Mrs. Pelouard, and Marcel was informed that he would not be brought on as promised. According to The Salt Lake Herald, Madeline Pelouard’s “fanciful French cooking was not at all to the plain American taste” of the Harrisons.³ Pelouard’s dismissal almost led to a lawsuit for alleged “breach of contract,” though she later dropped the case.⁴ 

After leaving the White House, the Pelouards opened a cafe and boarding house on 18th St. in Washington, D.C.⁵ They later relocated to New Jersey, where Marcel worked as a hotel steward while Madeline stayed home.⁶ Further information about her later life and death are currently unknown.