Who Was the Youngest President?

Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president to take office. Editorial credit: Everett Historical / Shutterstock.com
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president to take office. Editorial credit: Everett Historical / Shutterstock.com

Article 2 Section 1 of the US constitution requires a presidential candidate to be at least 35 years. The 22nd amendment limited the presidential terms to not more than two. Only natural born citizens of the United States can be elected as presidents. The following are the youngest American presidents.

Youngest Presidents Of The United States

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president of the United States after the assassination of President William McKinley. Roosevelt assumed office on September 14, 1901, at the age of 42 years, 322 days. He brought excitement and vigor to the presidency, as he led Congress and the American public to progressive reforms. Roosevelt was a liberal leader who believed that the president is a “steward of the people.” He had struggled against ill health as a young man, and his wife and mother had both died on the same day. He left office on March 4, 1909, and died on January 6, 1919, aged 60.

John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy popularly known as JFK was the 35th president of the United States. He succeeded Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 20, 1961, at the age of 43 years, 236 days. Kennedy did not complete his term in office as he was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He is revered for guiding the state through the height of the Cold War without a physical confrontation with the Soviet Union.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the US. He succeeded George H. W. Bush on January 20, 1993, at the age of 46 years, 154 days. Bill Clinton, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump (impeached twice) are the only three American presidents to be impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted of charges by the Senate. Prior to the presidency, he served as the governor of the state of Arkansas. Clinton's term ended on January 20, 2001, and George W. Bush succeeded him.

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses Grant succeeded Andrew Johnson as the 18th president on March 4, 1869, at the age of 46 years, 311 days. He served as the Secretary of War during the American Civil War and led the Union army to victory over the Confederates. During his tenure, Grant led the country through a reconciliation process and spearheaded the fight against Confederate nationalism, slavery, and racism.

Oldest American Presidents

Joe Biden is the oldest person to clinch the presidency of the United States. He succeeded Donald Trump on January 20, 2021, as the 46th president at the age of 78 years, 61 days. Donald Trump was the oldest president before that at 70 years and 220 days. Ronald Reagan assumed office at the age of 69 years, 349 days. He succeeded Jimmy Carter on January 20, 1981, as the 40th president.

Youngest Presidents of the United States

RankPresidentBirth DateDate of Start of Presidency DateAge at Start of Presidency
1Theodore Roosevelt (26th)October 27, 185814-Sep-0142 years, 322 days
2 John F. Kennedy (35th)29-May-1720-Jan-6143 years, 236 days
3Bill Clinton (42nd)19-Aug-4620-Jan-9346 years, 154 days
4Ulysses S. Grant (18th)April 27, 1822March 4, 186946 years, 311 days
5Barack Obama (44th)04-Aug-6120-Jan-0947 years, 169 days
6Grover Cleveland (22nd)March 18, 1837March 4, 188547 years, 351 days
7Franklin Pierce (14th)November 23, 1804March 4, 185348 years, 101 days
8James A. Garfield (20th)November 19, 1831March 4, 188149 years, 105 days
9James K. Polk (11th)November 2, 1795March 4, 184549 years, 122 days
10Millard Fillmore (13th)Jananuary 7, 1800July 9, 185050 years, 183 days
11John Tyler (10th)March 29, 1790April 4, 184151 years, 6 days
12Calvin Coolidge (30th)July 4, 187202-Aug-2351 years, 29 days
13Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd)January 30, 188204-Mar-3351 years, 33 days
14William H. Taft (27th)September 15, 185704-Mar-0951 years, 170 days
15Chester A. Arthur (21st)October 5, 1829September 19, 188151 years, 349 days
16Abraham Lincoln (16th)Febuary 12, 1809March 4, 186152 years, 20 days
17Jimmy Carter (39th)01-Oct-2420-Jan-7752 years, 111 days
18William McKinley (25th)January 29, 1843March 4, 189754 years, 34 days
19Martin Van Buren (8th)December 5, 1782March 4, 183754 years, 89 days
20Rutherford B. Hayes (19th)October 4, 1822March 4, 187754 years, 151 days
21George W. Bush (43rd)06-Jul-4620-Jan-0154 years, 198 days
22Herbert Hoover (31st)August 10, 187404-Mar-2954 years, 206 days
23Lyndon B. Johnson (36th)27-Aug-0822-Nov-6355 years, 87 days
24Warren G. Harding (29th)November 2, 186504-Mar-2155 years, 122 days
25Benjamin Harrison (23rd)August 20, 1833March 4, 188955 years, 196 days
26Grover Cleveland (24th)March 18, 1837March 4, 189355 years, 351 days
27Richard Nixon (37th)09-Jan-1320-Jan-6956 years, 11 days
28Woodrow Wilson (28th)December 28, 185604-Mar-1356 years, 66 days
29Andrew Johnson (17th)December 29, 1808April 15, 186556 years, 107 days
30George Washington (1st)February 22, 1732April 30, 178957 years, 67 days
31John Quincy Adams (6th)July 11, 1767March 4, 182557 years, 236 days
32Thomas Jefferson (3rd)April 13, 1743March 4, 180157 years, 325 days
33James Madison (4th)March 16, 1751March 4, 180957 years, 353 days
34James Monroe (5th)April 28, 1758March 4, 181758 years, 310 days
35Harry S. Truman (33rd)May 8, 188412-Apr-4560 years, 339 days
36Gerald Ford (38th)14-Jul-1309-Aug-7461 years, 26 days
37John Adams (2nd)October 30, 1735March 4, 179761 years, 125 days
38Andrew Jackson (7th)March 15, 1767March 4, 182961 years, 354 days
39Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th)October 14, 189020-Jan-5362 years, 98 days
40Zachary Taylor (12th)November 24, 1784March 4, 184964 years, 100 days
41George H. W. Bush (41st)12-Jun-2420-Jan-8964 years, 222 days
42James Buchanan (15th)April 23, 1791March 4, 185765 years, 315 days
43William Henry Harrison (9th)February 9, 1773March 4, 184168 years, 23 days
44Ronald Reagan (40th)06-Feb-1120-Jan-8169 years, 349 days
45Donald Trump (45th)14-Jun-4620-Jan-1770 years, 220 days
46Joe Biden (46th)20-Nov-4220-Jan-2178 years, 61 days
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