Complete List of U.S. Presidents and Their Terms (1789–Present)

Looking for a complete list of all the U.S. Presidents and the years they served? Whether you're a student, history buff, or just curious, this comprehensive guide lists every American president in order, along with their terms in office. Bookmark this page for a quick reference!

And if you are looking to go deeper on all the U.S. Presidents, check out the Ultimate Presidential Collectors Set -- a collection of activity books for kids age 5-10 about each President.

Why This List Matters

Understanding who served as president—and when—can give context to major events in U.S. history, from wars and civil rights to economic booms and scientific breakthroughs.

List of All U.S. Presidents by Term

1) George Washington (1789–1797) America's first president and hero of The American Revolution.
2) John Adams (1797–1801) Defender of liberty and the Constitution.
3) Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) Author of freedom, Declaration's bold voice.
4) James Madison (1809–1817) Father of the Constitution, freedom's architect.
5) James Monroe (1817–1825) Era of Good Feelings, doctrine of strength.
6) John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) Diplomat president, champion of progress.
7) Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) People's president, fierce defender of Union.
8) Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) Architect of party, navigated panic's storm.
9) William Henry Harrison (1841) Brief reign, first to fall in office.
10) John Tyler (1841–1845) His Accidency, annexed Texas with resolve.
11) James K. Polk (1845–1849) Manifest Destiny's champion, expanded nation.
12) Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) Old Rough and Ready, soldier-president died.
13) Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) Compromise of 1850, Union's fragile peace.
14) Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) Kansas-Nebraska Act, deepened sectional strife.
15) James Buchanan (1857–1861) Failed to quell the storm before Civil War.
16) Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) Preserved Union, freed slaves, nation's martyr.
17) Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) Reconstruction's foe, clashed with Congress.
18) Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) Civil War hero, led through Reconstruction.
19) Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881) Ended Reconstruction, restored nation's trust.
20) James A. Garfield (1881) Reform-minded leader, struck down too soon.
21) Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885) Civil service reformer, unexpected leader.
22) Grover Cleveland (1885–1889) Honest president, served two split terms.
23) Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) High tariffs, modernized the American Navy.
24) Grover Cleveland (1893–1897) Returned to lead, faced economic panic.
25) William McKinley (1897–1901) Prosperity's leader, met by assassin's hand.
26) Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) Trust-buster, carried big stick, loved nature.
27) William Howard Taft (1909–1913) Trust-buster continued, stuck in progressivism.
28) Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) Led through Great War, League of Nations dream.
29) Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) Return to normalcy, scandals marred legacy.
30) Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) Silent Cal, championed business prosperity.
31) Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) Faced Great Depression, struggled to recover.
32) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) New Deal architect, led through war and crisis.
33) Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) Dropped the bomb, shaped Cold War's dawn.
34) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) Interstate builder, guided Cold War peace.
35) John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) New Frontier, inspired a nation, fallen young.
36) Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) Great Society, escalated Vietnam's shadow.
37) Richard Nixon (1969–1974) Opened China, resigned in Watergate's shame.
38) Gerald Ford (1974–1977) Healed nation post-Watergate, unelected leader.
39) Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) Human rights advocate, brokered Camp David peace.
40) Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) Conservative icon, ended Cold War tensions.
41) George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) Gulf War victor, navigated new world order.
42) Bill Clinton (1993–2001) Balanced budget, faced impeachment's storm.
43) George W. Bush (2001–2009) 9/11 warrior, led wars in Iraq, Afghanistan.
44) Barack Obama (2009–2017) First Black president, passed healthcare reform.
45) Donald J. Trump (2017–2021) Disruptive leader, prioritized America First.
46) Joe Biden (2021–2025) Restored alliances, faced inflation, division.
47) Donald J. Trump (2025 - Present)

Final Thoughts

This list of U.S. presidents and their terms is a great reference for educators, students, and anyone interested in American history. Keep this resource handy and share it with others who want to learn more about the leaders of the United States!