List of all of the United States presidents: What Most People Get Wrong

Honestly, if you try to recite the list of all of the United States presidents from memory, you’re probably going to trip up around the mid-1800s. Most of us remember the "greats" like Washington and Lincoln, or the modern faces we see on the news every night. But there’s a whole lot of chaos, weirdness, and "who is that guy?" in between.

Right now, as of early 2026, we are living through a historical quirk that has only happened once before. Donald Trump is currently the 47th President, but if you count the actual human beings who have sat in the Oval Office, he’s only the 45th person. Why? Because Grover Cleveland—the man with the legendary mustache—served two non-consecutive terms back in the late 1800s. He’s the 22nd and 24th president. Now, Trump is the 45th and 47th. It's kinda confusing, but that's American history for you.

The Early Architects (1789–1825)

The first few guys weren't just politicians; they were literally inventing the job as they went. George Washington (1789-1797) set the "two-term" rule that everyone followed until FDR broke it (and they eventually turned it into a law).

Then you’ve got John Adams, the first to live in the White House, which was still basically a construction zone at the time. He and Thomas Jefferson were "frenemies" who died on the exact same day—July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. You couldn't write a more dramatic script.

James Madison was tiny. Basically 5’4” and barely 100 pounds, but he was the "Father of the Constitution." James Monroe followed him, overseeing the "Era of Good Feelings," though things weren't always that feelings-y.

The Wild West and Civil War Era (1825–1869)

Things got messy fast. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) was basically a brawler who once beat a would-be assassin with his cane. He’s a polarizing figure today, but back then, he was the face of the "common man."

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Then came a string of "forgotten" presidents. Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison (who died 31 days into the job because he gave a long speech in the rain without a coat), and John Tyler. Tyler was so disliked by his own party that they kicked him out while he was still president.

The lead-up to the Civil War gave us some of the lowest-ranked leaders in history, like James Buchanan, who basically watched the country fall apart and did... nothing. But then we got Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865). The 16th president. 6’4”, wrestled in his youth, and saved the Union before being assassinated.

The Gilded Age and the Move to Modernity (1869–1933)

This is the era of the "Bearded Presidents." Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield (assassinated), Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison.

Then we get Teddy Roosevelt. He was a force of nature. He became the youngest president at 42 after McKinley was shot. He boxed in the White House, went on safaris, and built the Panama Canal. His cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), would later become the only person elected four times, leading the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II.

The Cold War and Modern Era (1945–Present)

Post-WWII gave us the heavy hitters. Harry Truman made the call to use the atomic bomb. Dwight Eisenhower built the highways we use today. JFK's presidency was cut short in Dallas in 1963, leading to Lyndon B. Johnson’s "Great Society" and the escalation of the Vietnam War.

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The list of all of the United States presidents in recent memory is a rollercoaster:

• Richard Nixon: The only one to resign.
• Gerald Ford: The only one never elected as President or VP (he was appointed).
• Jimmy Carter: Famous for his post-presidency charity work and living past 100.
• Ronald Reagan: The "Great Communicator" and former actor.
• George H.W. Bush & George W. Bush: The second father-son duo.
• Bill Clinton: Oversaw the 90s boom and an impeachment.
• Barack Obama: The first Black president.
• Joe Biden: The 46th president who dealt with the post-pandemic recovery.

And that brings us to the current moment. Donald Trump’s second term (started January 2025) has been marked by high-stakes international deals and massive domestic shifts like the "DOGE" initiative with Elon Musk.

The Full List for Your Reference

1. George Washington (1789-1797)
2. John Adams (1797-1801)
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
4. James Madison (1809-1817)
5. James Monroe (1817-1825)
6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
8. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
9. William Henry Harrison (1841)
10. John Tyler (1841-1845)
11. James K. Polk (1845-1849)
12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
15. James Buchanan (1857-1861)
16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
20. James A. Garfield (1881)
21. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
22. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
24. Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
25. William McKinley (1897-1901)
26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
27. William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
29. Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
31. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
35. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
37. Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
38. Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
39. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
40. Ronald Reagan (1881-1989)
41. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
42. Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
43. George W. Bush (2001-2009)
44. Barack Obama (2009-2017)
45. Donald Trump (2017-2021)
46. Joe Biden (2021-2025)
47. Donald Trump (2025-Present)

Surprising Facts You Won't Find in Most Textbooks

Did you know Andrew Jackson taught his pet parrot how to curse? Apparently, the bird had to be removed from Jackson’s funeral because it wouldn't stop screaming profanities.

Or how about the fact that Herbert Hoover and his wife spoke Mandarin Chinese in the White House whenever they wanted to have a private conversation? They’d lived in China for years and used the language as a "secret code."

James Garfield could write in Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time. It’s almost a shame he only served a few months before being shot.

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Why This List Matters Today

When you look at the list of all of the United States presidents, you see a mirror of the country's growth. We went from a tiny collection of colonies to a global superpower. Every name on this list represents a different era of American thought—from the expansionist goals of James K. Polk to the civil rights struggles under LBJ.

Historians at places like the Miller Center or the White House Historical Association spend their lives debating who was "best" or "worst." Usually, Lincoln, Washington, and FDR take the top spots. But rankings shift. For example, Ulysses S. Grant was considered a "failed" president for decades, but modern historians have rehabilitated his image because of his work protecting the rights of formerly enslaved people.

Actionable Steps for History Buffs

If you want to go deeper than just a list of names, here’s what you should do:

• Visit the Presidential Libraries: Almost every modern president has one. They are incredible archives. The Reagan Library in California even has a retired Air Force One you can walk through.
• Read a "Duo" Biography: If you want to see how these men interacted, read Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin or The Presidents Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy.
• Check Out the "Living" History: Currently, we have several former presidents still with us. Watching their post-presidency work gives a lot of context to the office they once held.

The American presidency is a weird, high-pressure, often-misunderstood job. Whether you love or hate the names on this list, they are the ones who steered the ship.