The American president serves as both the head of state and the head of government, overseeing the executive branch and functioning as the commander-in-chief of the US military. Since the adoption of the Twenty-second Amendment in 1951, the presidency has been limited to a maximum of two terms per individual.
The first president of the United States
The journey of the US presidency began with George Washington, the nation’s first president. Elected in 1789, Washington served two terms, concluding his presidency in 1797. Before his presidency, Washington had already gained national recognition as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His leadership in securing independence from Britain and his subsequent role in shaping the new nation made him the unanimous choice for president.
Washington’s tenure was marked by achievements, including establishing key institutions that would become the backbone of the US government. He signed the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal court system. He also oversaw the creation of the first Cabinet, a group of advisors who help the president in decision-making. Washington’s approach to foreign policy was one of neutrality, particularly in European conflicts, a stance that shaped U.S. diplomacy for years to come.
His refusal to seek a third term set an important precedent, emphasizing the peaceful transition of power, a hallmark of American democracy. As a testament to his influence, Washington remains a highly revered figure in American history, often called “The Father of His Country.”
How many presidents has the United States had?
As of October 2024, the United States has had 46 presidents, with Joe Biden currently serving as the 46th. The US presidential office has seen its share of remarkable leaders, from those who steered the country through wars to those who advocated for civil rights, shaped economic policies, and expanded America’s influence globally.
One interesting aspect of US presidential history is that one man, Grover Cleveland, served two non-consecutive terms, making him both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. This unique situation is why Joe Biden is listed as the 46th president, even though he is only the 45th individual to hold the office.
A complete list of U.S. presidents
Here is a chronological list of all U.S. presidents, their birthplaces, political parties, and terms of office:
| No. | President | Birthplace | Political Party | Term of Office |
| 1 | George Washington | Virginia | Independent | 1789–1797 |
| 2 | John Adams | Massachusetts | Federalist | 1797–1801 |
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson | Virginia | Democratic-Republican | 1801–1809 |
| 4 | James Madison | Virginia | Democratic-Republican | 1809–1817 |
| 5 | James Monroe | Virginia | Democratic-Republican | 1817–1825 |
| 6 | John Quincy Adams | Massachusetts | Democratic-Republican | 1825–1829 |
| 7 | Andrew Jackson | South Carolina | Democratic | 1829–1837 |
| 8 | Martin Van Buren | New York | Democratic | 1837–1841 |
| 9 | William Henry Harrison | Virginia | Whig | 1841* |
| 10 | John Tyler | Virginia | Whig | 1841–1845 |
| 11 | James K. Polk | North Carolina | Democratic | 1845–1849 |
| 12 | Zachary Taylor | Virginia | Whig | 1849–1850* |
| 13 | Millard Fillmore | New York | Whig | 1850–1853 |
| 14 | Franklin Pierce | New Hampshire | Democratic | 1853–1857 |
| 15 | James Buchanan | Pennsylvania | Democratic | 1857–1861 |
| 16 | Abraham Lincoln | Kentucky | Republican | 1861–1865* |
| 17 | Andrew Johnson | North Carolina | Democratic (Union) | 1865–1869 |
| 18 | Ulysses S. Grant | Ohio | Republican | 1869–1877 |
| 19 | Rutherford B. Hayes | Ohio | Republican | 1877–1881 |
| 20 | James A. Garfield | Ohio | Republican | 1881* |
| 21 | Chester A. Arthur | Vermont | Republican | 1881–1885 |
| 22 | Grover Cleveland | New Jersey | Democratic | 1885–1889 |
| 23 | Benjamin Harrison | Ohio | Republican | 1889–1893 |
| 24 | Grover Cleveland | New Jersey | Democratic | 1893–1897 |
| 25 | William McKinley | Ohio | Republican | 1897–1901* |
| 26 | Theodore Roosevelt | New York | Republican | 1901–1909 |
| 27 | William Howard Taft | Ohio | Republican | 1909–1913 |
| 28 | Woodrow Wilson | Virginia | Democratic | 1913–1921 |
| 29 | Warren G. Harding | Ohio | Republican | 1921–1923* |
| 30 | Calvin Coolidge | Vermont | Republican | 1923–1929 |
| 31 | Herbert Hoover | Iowa | Republican | 1929–1933 |
| 32 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | New York | Democratic | 1933–1945* |
| 33 | Harry S. Truman | Missouri | Democratic | 1945–1953 |
| 34 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Texas | Republican | 1953–1961 |
| 35 | John F. Kennedy | Massachusetts | Democratic | 1961–1963* |
| 36 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Texas | Democratic | 1963–1969 |
| 37 | Richard M. Nixon | California | Republican | 1969–1974** |
| 38 | Gerald R. Ford | Nebraska | Republican | 1974–1977 |
| 39 | Jimmy Carter | Georgia | Democratic | 1977–1981 |
| 40 | Ronald Reagan | Illinois | Republican | 1981–1989 |
| 41 | George H. W. Bush | Massachusetts | Republican | 1989–1993 |
| 42 | Bill Clinton | Arkansas | Democratic | 1993–2001 |
| 43 | George W. Bush | Connecticut | Republican | 2001–2009 |
| 44 | Barack Obama | Hawaii | Democratic | 2009–2017 |
| 45 | Donald Trump | New York | Republican | 2017–2021 |
| 46 | Joe Biden | Pennsylvania | Democratic | 2021–Present |
The presidents who died in office
- William Henry Harrison
- Died: April 4, 1841
- Cause: Pneumonia (after only 31 days in office — shortest presidency)
- Vice President: John Tyler
- Zachary Taylor
- Died: July 9, 1850
- Cause: Illness (suspected acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning)
- Vice President: Millard Fillmore
- Abraham Lincoln
- Died: April 15, 1865
- Cause: Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
- Vice President: Andrew Johnson
- James A. Garfield
- Died: September 19, 1881
- Cause: Assassinated (died of infections months after being shot)
- Vice President: Chester A. Arthur
- William McKinley
- Died: September 14, 1901
- Cause: Assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz
- Vice President: Theodore Roosevelt
- Warren G. Harding
- Died: August 2, 1923
- Cause: Heart attack (or possible stroke)
- Vice President: Calvin Coolidge
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Died: April 12, 1945
- Cause: Cerebral hemorrhage (stroke)
- Vice President: Harry S. Truman
- John F. Kennedy
- Died: November 22, 1963
- Cause: Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald
- Vice President: Lyndon B. Johnson
Resigned from office
Richard Nixon
- Resigned: August 9, 1974
- Reason: To avoid impeachment after the Watergate scandal, involving a cover-up of a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
- Vice President: Gerald Ford
- Notable Fact: Nixon is the only U.S. president to resign from office.
What happened next?
- Gerald Ford became president upon Nixon’s resignation and later pardoned Nixon, which was a highly controversial decision at the time.
