Looking for all the U.S. presidents in order? Here’s a complete list

The list of American presidents stretches over more than two centuries, starting with George Washington, the first president of the United States, who took office in 1789.

Each president played a vital role in shaping the nation’s policies, from domestic matters to international diplomacy. Serving as the head of the executive branch, presidents are tasked with enforcing laws, commanding the armed forces, and steering the country through both prosperous and turbulent times.

Key figures like Abraham Lincoln, who led during the Civil War, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who navigated the Great Depression and World War II, are often highlighted for their leadership in crisis.

READ: From innovators to oligarchs: The role of Big Tech in Trump’s America (January 20, 2025)

More recently, Donald Trump served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, and as of 2025, he has returned to office, having won the 2024 presidential election. His second term marks a significant moment in American politics, reflecting a continued evolution of leadership and national priorities. In light of Trump taking office this week, here’s the full list of U.S. presidents:

1. George Washington (1789–1797): The first president and one of the Founding Fathers. He set crucial precedents for the presidency, including the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power and the formation of a Cabinet. Washington’s leadership helped solidify the newly formed United States.
2. John Adams (1797–1801): The second president and a key figure in the American Revolution. Adams was instrumental in securing independence from Britain and played a critical role in drafting the Declaration of Independence. He helped lay the groundwork for the new government.
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809): The third president and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the U.S., and is known for his advocacy of agrarianism and a limited federal government.
4. James Madison (1809–1817): The fourth president and “Father of the Constitution.” Madison led the country during the War of 1812 and helped establish the Bill of Rights. His presidency solidified the role of the Constitution in U.S. governance.
5. James Monroe (1817–1825): The fifth president, Monroe is known for the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European nations against interfering in the Americas. His presidency is often seen as a time of national unity and territorial expansion.
6. John Quincy Adams (1825–1829): The sixth president and son of John Adams, he is known for his diplomatic successes, such as negotiating the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812 and his role in formulating the Monroe Doctrine.
7. Andrew Jackson (1829–1837): The seventh president, Jackson was a populist who championed the common man. His presidency saw the forced relocation of Native American tribes, the expansion of voting rights, and a controversial stance against the national bank.
8. Martin Van Buren (1837–1841): The eighth president and a key architect of the Democratic Party. Van Buren’s term was marked by economic hardship, notably the Panic of 1837, but he helped solidify party politics in the U.S.
9. William Henry Harrison (1841): The ninth president, Harrison served the shortest presidency in U.S. history, dying just 31 days after taking office. His death marked the first time a president had passed away in office.
10. John Tyler (1841–1845): The tenth president, Tyler became president after Harrison’s death. He is known for annexing Texas, which led to tensions with Mexico and ultimately the Mexican-American War.
11. James K. Polk (1845–1849): The 11th president, Polk is credited with expanding U.S. territory through the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican-American War, fulfilling the goal of Manifest Destiny.
12. Zachary Taylor (1849–1850): The 12th president, a war hero from the Mexican-American War. Taylor’s presidency was cut short by his death after just 16 months in office.
13. Millard Fillmore (1850–1853): The 13th president, Fillmore is known for supporting the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to ease tensions between the North and South over slavery, though it ultimately failed to prevent the Civil War.
14. Franklin Pierce (1853–1857): The 14th president, Pierce’s administration saw the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed territories to decide on slavery and escalated tensions that would lead to the Civil War.
15. James Buchanan (1857–1861): The 15th president, Buchanan is often criticized for his inability to address the growing divide over slavery, and his failure to prevent secession led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
16. Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865): The 16th president, Lincoln led the country through the Civil War, abolished slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation, and preserved the Union. He was assassinated shortly after the war ended.
17. Andrew Johnson (1865–1869): The 17th president, Johnson succeeded Lincoln and faced impeachment for his opposition to Reconstruction policies. He was acquitted by the Senate but left a controversial legacy.
18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877): The 18th president, Grant was a Union general during the Civil War. His presidency focused on Reconstruction and efforts to protect African American rights, though it was marred by corruption scandals.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881): The 19th president, Hayes is known for ending Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South, and for his efforts at civil service reform.
20. James A. Garfield (1881): The 20th president, Garfield was assassinated just months into his term, prompting significant reforms in the U.S. civil service system.
21. Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885): The 21st president, Arthur is known for his reform of the civil service system and modernization of the U.S. Navy.
22. Grover Cleveland (1885–1889): The 22nd president, Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He focused on tariff reform and reducing government corruption.
23. Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893): The 23rd president, Harrison oversaw the expansion of the U.S. Navy and supported the Sherman Antitrust Act to curb monopolies.
24. Grover Cleveland (1893–1897): As the 24th president, Cleveland faced the Panic of 1893 and worked to address economic instability through his commitment to the gold standard.
25. William McKinley (1897–1901): The 25th president, McKinley led the U.S. during the Spanish-American War, which resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909): The 26th president, Roosevelt is remembered for his progressive reforms, trust-busting, conservation efforts, and expanding U.S. influence globally, particularly through the construction of the Panama Canal.
27. William Howard Taft (1909–1913): The 27th president, Taft focused on trust-busting and expanding the reach of government but struggled with party divisions, leading to his loss in the 1912 election.
28. Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921): The 28th president, Wilson led the U.S. through World War I and played a key role in founding the League of Nations, though the U.S. ultimately did not join.
29. Warren G. Harding (1921–1923): The 29th president, Harding’s administration was marred by scandals, but he is remembered for advocating pro-business policies and supporting veterans.
30. Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929): The 30th president, Coolidge is known for his laissez-faire economic policies, presiding over the Roaring Twenties, a period of economic prosperity.
31. Herbert Hoover (1929–1933): The 31st president, Hoover is often blamed for the Great Depression due to his inadequate response to the economic crisis following the 1929 stock market crash.
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945): The 32nd president, FDR served four terms, leading the country through the Great Depression with his New Deal programs and through World War II. He is the only president to serve more than two terms.
33. Harry S. Truman (1945–1953): The 33rd president, Truman made the controversial decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II. His leadership shaped the early Cold War and U.S. foreign policy.
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961): The 34th president, Eisenhower oversaw the end of the Korean War and the beginning of the Cold War, with a focus on building the interstate highway system and containing communism.
35. John F. Kennedy (1961–1963): The 35th president, JFK is known for his inspirational speeches, handling the Cuban Missile Crisis, and promoting civil rights before his assassination in 1963.
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969): The 36th president, Johnson passed landmark civil rights legislation and escalated the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
37. Richard Nixon (1969–1974): The 37th president, Nixon is known for his foreign policy successes, including the opening of relations with China, but his presidency was ultimately defined by the Watergate scandal and his resignation.
38. Gerald Ford (1974–1977): The 38th president, Ford became president after Nixon’s resignation and controversially pardoned Nixon, which affected his public image.
39. Jimmy Carter (1977–1981): The 39th president, Carter is known for his emphasis on human rights and diplomacy, including brokering the Camp David Accords, but struggled with economic challenges and the Iran Hostage Crisis.
40. Ronald Reagan (1981–1989): The 40th president, Reagan revitalized the U.S. economy, promoted conservative social policies, and played a key role in ending the Cold War.
41. George H. W. Bush (1989–1993): The 41st president, Bush led the U.S. during the Gulf War and saw the end of the Cold War but faced economic difficulties at home.
42. Bill Clinton (1993–2001): The 42nd president, Clinton is remembered for economic prosperity, welfare reform, and efforts to balance the federal budget, though his presidency was marked by the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
43. George W. Bush (2001–2009): The 43rd president, Bush’s presidency was dominated by the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
44. Barack Obama (2009–2017): The 44th president, Obama is known for his health care reform (Affordable Care Act), handling the economic recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, and leadership during the killing of Osama bin Laden.
45. Donald Trump (2017–2021): The 45th president, Trump was a divisive figure known for his “America First” policies, handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and being impeached twice during his term, though acquitted both times.
46. Joe Biden (2021–2025): The 46th president, Biden focused on pandemic recovery, climate change, and restoring international alliances. His presidency has faced challenges such as inflation and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
47. Donald Trump (2025–present): The 47th president, Trump made a political comeback after winning the 2024 election, potentially focusing on his previous policies on immigration, national security, and economic growth.

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