Name the Generals who became President!

[VaLabor]

With Clark now vying for the presidency, I wanted to know the full list of generals who went on to become President (and whether each of them held any elected office before going to the White House - I don't think any of them have).

Here's my list:

George Washington (no party)
Andrew Jackson (Democrat)
Zachary Taylor (Whig?)
Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)

Am I missing anyone? Were Polk or Tyler generals???

[tom_paine]

1. James Garfield & Rutherford B. Hayes

Probably a couple more I am missing from the post-Civil War era where practically EVERYBODY was a General!

:evilgrin:

[NWHarkness]

4. Yes but

while garfield and hayes were both Generals in the Civil War, neither of them went from the military to the Presidency.

Garfield served several terms in Congress and Hayes was the governor of Ohio before becoming President.

[flamingyouth]

2. I think Benjamin Harrison too

Could be wrong, tho'

[GreenArrow]

6. william henry harrison

.

[On the Road]

3. William Henry Harrison?

Wasn't he the "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too" candidate (the slogan referring to a military victory over the Indians)?

[NWHarkness]

7. Yes

W.H.Harrison was a major general in the War of 1812.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Andrew Johnson

Colornel Custer would have been on that list cept for Little Big Horn...

[NWHarkness]

8. Sort of

Andrew Johnson was appointed military governor of Tennessee and the rank of brigadier General came with the office. He had no other military experience.

[maha]

13. He was a "general" of state militia, was he not?

I don't think that counts.

[maha]

9. We already did this a few days ago, but here it is:

There were three guys who went from a military career into the White House without serving in another elected office. They were Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, and Dwight Eisenhower.

I'm pretty sure this is the complete list of other ex-generals who became President, but who held other political offices first.

George Washington (Revolution)
Andrew Jackson (War of 1812)
William Henry Harrison (Indian Wars)
Benjamin Pierce (Mexican War)
Rutherford Hayes (Civil War)
James Garfield (Civil War)
Benjamin Harrison (Civil War)

Taylor, Grant, and Pierce were all officers in the Mexican War, although Grant was a junior officer at the time.

More on Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower here:

http://www.mahablog.com/2003.09.14_arch.html#1063725626338

[Wwagsthedog]

10. Franklin Pierce was a Brigadier General

n/t

[maha]

12. Brigadier Generals are generals, too.

Brigadiers are "one-star" generals.
Major generals get two stars
Lieutenant generals get three stars.
I don't remember what they call four- and five-star generals.

Ulysses S. Grant was the first four-star general, btw.

[VolcanoJen]

14. They call them four-star and five-star generals!

Just kidding...

A four-star general is called "General."


A five-star general (only in wartime) is called "General of the Army."

[Kolesar]

11. General Electric and General Motors are running this country now

Look at what a fine job they are doing! (sorry, lame humor, I admit)