U.S. Presidents: Death by Date Quiz

George Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789 and served two terms. He helped establish the new presidency, created important precedents for the office and oversaw the formation of the federal government.

Washington retired from public life after leaving the presidency in 1797 and returned to Mount Vernon. In December 1799, he became seriously ill after developing a severe throat condition. He died at Mount Vernon on December 14, aged 67.

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President and served from 1837 to 1841. His presidency was dominated by the economic Panic of 1837, which brought widespread financial hardship and unemployment.

After leaving the White House, Van Buren remained involved in national politics and continued writing about political affairs. He spent his final years at Lindenwald, his home in Kinderhook, New York. He died there on July 24, 1862, aged 79.

William McKinley served as the 25th President from 1897 until 1901. His administration oversaw the Spanish-American War and the emergence of the United States as a more prominent world power.

McKinley was attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo when he was shot in September 1901. His condition initially appeared hopeful, but infection and gangrene developed. He died eight days later.

Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901 following McKinley's death and won election in his own right in 1904. He promoted progressive reforms, conservation and a more active role for the United States in world affairs.

After his presidency, he remained active in public life and continued writing and speaking. His health had suffered during his later years, including problems following his South American expedition. He died in his sleep at Sagamore Hill on January 6, 1919.

Calvin Coolidge became president after the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923 and won election the following year. His administration favoured lower taxes, limited government and reduced regulation during the prosperous 1920s.

Coolidge returned to Massachusetts after leaving office and spent his retirement writing his autobiography and articles. He largely stayed away from active politics. On January 5, 1933, he collapsed at his home in Northampton and died at the age of 60.

Franklin D. Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms, leading the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II. His New Deal brought major changes to the federal government's role in the economy and society.

He was still president when his health deteriorated during the final months of World War II. He travelled to Warm Springs, Georgia, in April 1945 for a period of rest. On April 12, he collapsed while sitting for a portrait and died later that day.

Harry S. Truman became president in 1945 after Roosevelt's death and went on to win election in 1948. His presidency included the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War and the Korean War.

Truman enjoyed a long retirement after leaving the presidency in 1953. He remained active around his presidential library and continued to receive visitors. He died on December 26, 1972, at the age of 88.

Richard Nixon served as the 37th President from 1969 until his resignation in 1974. His presidency included the opening of relations with China, détente with the Soviet Union and the continuing Vietnam War, but the Watergate scandal ultimately brought his presidency to an end.

Nixon remained a controversial figure after leaving the White House, but later years saw him publish books and take part in foreign-policy discussions. He died on April 22, 1994, aged 81, after suffering a stroke several days earlier.

George H. W. Bush served as the 41st President from 1989 to 1993. His presidency coincided with the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Gulf War, and he also signed major domestic legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

After leaving office, he remained active in public life particularly through charitable work and presidential events. He lived to 94 and was the longest-lived U.S. president at the time of his death. He died in Houston on November 30, 2018.

Jimmy Carter became the 39th President in 1977 after defeating Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. His presidency included the Camp David Accords, the energy crisis and the Iran hostage crisis. He lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan.

He went on to have an unusually active post-presidency. He founded the Carter Center, worked with Habitat for Humanity and became involved in international peace and human-rights efforts. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.