Mary Abigail Fillmore died on July 26, 1854. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., she studied at a private school in Lenox, Massachusetts, and graduated from New York State Normal School. She spoke French fluently and was conversant in Spanish, German, and Italian. She taught briefly in the Buffalo schools until her father became President in 1850. She was also an accomplished musician, who played the piano, harp, and guitar. During her father's presidency from 1850 to 1853 she often served as White House hostess, in part due to her mother's illness, and while exercising this role, she performed at White House functions. Abigail Fillmore died 24 days after Fillmore's presidency ended, and Mary took over the management of her father's household. She accompanied him to a variety of public functions Sadly, she died very suddenly from cholera at age 22. Her death is thought to have contributed to former president Fillmore's decision to come out of retirement and resume his political career. Mary Abigail Fillmore is buried in the Fillmore family lot in Section F of Forest Lawn.