The Complete List of U.S. Secretaries of the Treasury: From Hamilton to the Present!

The Secretary of the Treasury is America's money boss—handling taxes, debt, printing cash, and advising the president on the economy. The department started in 1789, and Alexander Hamilton (yes, the musical guy!) was the first. There have been 79 Secretaries of the Treasury so far, with some big names becoming presidents or legends. Here's the full chronological list with years served and a quick kid-friendly fun fact for each. (Current Secretary as of 2025: Scott Bessent.)
  1. Alexander Hamilton (1789–1795) – Fun fact: Created the first U.S. bank and Coast Guard—basically invented America's money system!
  2. Oliver Wolcott Jr. (1795–1800) – Signed early U.S. coins as Treasury head.
  3. Samuel Dexter (1800–1801) – Short term; also served as War Secretary.
  4. Albert Gallatin (1801–1814) – Longest early term (13 years!); financed the Louisiana Purchase.
  5. George W. Campbell (1814) – Very short; resigned due to health.
  6. Alexander J. Dallas (1814–1816) – Helped fund the War of 1812.
  7. William H. Crawford (1816–1825) – Ran for president in 1824 (the crazy tied one!).
  8. Richard Rush (1825–1829) – Son of a Declaration signer.
  9. Samuel D. Ingham (1829–1831) – Resigned in "Kitchen Cabinet" drama.
  10. Louis McLane (1831–1833) – Later Secretary of State.
  11. William J. Duane (1833) – Shortest term (1 month!); fired by Jackson.
  12. Roger B. Taney (1833–1834) – Later Chief Justice; famous Dred Scott decision.
  13. Levi Woodbury (1834–1841) – Only person to serve as Treasury, Navy, and Supreme Court Justice!
  14. Thomas Ewing (1841) – Very short (6 months).
  15. Walter Forward (1841–1843) – Resigned over tariff fights.
  16. John C. Spencer (1843–1844) – Also War Secretary.
  17. George M. Bibb (1844–1845) – Last of Van Buren's Cabinet holdovers.
  18. Robert J. Walker (1845–1849) – Financed the Mexican-American War.
  19. William M. Meredith (1849–1850) – Short term.
  20. Thomas Corwin (1850–1853) – Famous anti-war speech.
  21. James Guthrie (1853–1857) – Built the Treasury building's wings.
  22. Howell Cobb (1857–1860) – Later Confederate leader.
  23. Philip F. Thomas (1860–1861) – Resigned over secession.
  24. John A. Dix (1861) – Famous "shoot him on the spot" telegram.
  25. Salmon P. Chase (1861–1864) – Put "In God We Trust" on coins; became Chief Justice.
  26. William P. Fessenden (1864–1865) – Short Civil War term.
  27. Hugh McCulloch (1865–1869, 1884–1885) – Two non-consecutive terms!
  28. George S. Boutwell (1869–1873) – Helped with Reconstruction.
  29. William A. Richardson (1873–1874) – Scandal forced resignation.
  30. Benjamin H. Bristow (1874–1876) – Fought Whiskey Ring corruption.
  31. Lot M. Morrill (1876–1877) – Short term.
  32. John Sherman (1877–1881) – Brother of General Sherman.
  33. William Windom (1881, 1889–1891) – Two non-consecutive terms.
  34. Charles J. Folger (1881–1884) – Died in office.
  35. Walter Q. Gresham (1884) – Very short.
  36. Hugh McCulloch (1884–1885) – Back for round two!
  37. Daniel Manning (1885–1887) – Health issues.
  38. Charles S. Fairchild (1887–1889) – Short term.
  39. William Windom (1889–1891) – Back again!
  40. Charles Foster (1891–1893) – Short term.
  41. John G. Carlisle (1893–1897) – Gold standard fights.
  42. Lyman J. Gage (1897–1902) – Gold standard supporter.
  43. Leslie M. Shaw (1902–1907) – Banking reforms.
  44. George B. Cortelyou (1907–1909) – Panic of 1907.
  45. Franklin MacVeagh (1909–1913) – Lincoln penny redesign.
  46. William G. McAdoo (1913–1918) – Created Federal Reserve; married Wilson's daughter!
  47. Carter Glass (1918–1920) – Federal Reserve Act co-author.
  48. David F. Houston (1920–1921) – Short term.
  49. Andrew W. Mellon (1921–1932) – Longest modern term (11 years); Mellon Bank founder.
  50. Ogden L. Mills (1932–1933) – Great Depression era.
  51. William H. Woodin (1933) – Short; New Deal start.
  52. Henry Morgenthau Jr. (1934–1945) – Longest continuous (11+ years); Bretton Woods creator.
  53. Fred M. Vinson (1945–1946) – Later Chief Justice.
  54. John W. Snyder (1946–1953) – Truman's friend.
  55. George M. Humphrey (1953–1957) – "Humphrey budget."
  56. Robert B. Anderson (1957–1961) – Short term.
  57. C. Douglas Dillon (1961–1965) – JFK's advisor.
  58. Henry H. Fowler (1965–1968) – Vietnam War funding.
  59. Joseph W. Barr (1968–1969) – Shortest modern (31 days!).
  60. David M. Kennedy (1969–1971) – Nixon era.
  61. John B. Connally (1971–1972) – Famous "Nixon shock" on gold.
  62. George P. Shultz (1972–1974) – Later Secretary of State.
  63. William E. Simon (1974–1977) – Energy crisis.
  64. W. Michael Blumenthal (1977–1979) – Carter era.
  65. G. William Miller (1979–1981) – Short term.
  66. Donald T. Regan (1981–1985) – Reagan's "supply-side" guy.
  67. James A. Baker III (1985–1988) – Later Chief of Staff.
  68. Nicholas F. Brady (1988–1993) – Savings & Loan crisis.
  69. Lloyd Bentsen (1993–1994) – Famous "you're no Jack Kennedy" debate line.
  70. Robert E. Rubin (1995–1999) – Clinton surplus era.
  71. Lawrence H. Summers (1999–2001) – Harvard president later.
  72. Paul H. O'Neill (2001–2002) – Fired after disagreeing with Bush.
  73. John W. Snow (2003–2006) – Tax cuts push.
  74. Henry M. Paulson Jr. (2006–2009) – 2008 financial crisis bailout.
  75. Timothy F. Geithner (2009–2013) – Great Recession recovery.
  76. Jacob J. Lew (2013–2017) – Debt ceiling fights.
  77. Steven T. Mnuchin (2017–2021) – Trump tax cuts.
  78. Janet L. Yellen (2021–2025) – First woman Secretary; later Fed Chair too.
  79. Scott Bessent (2025–present) – Current Secretary; hedge fund background.
Fun Wrap-UpThe Treasury has seen bankers, lawyers, and even a future Chief Justice! Hamilton's still on the $10 bill—talk about lasting fame. Who’s your favorite money master from the list? Or who had the toughest economy to fix?
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