List of presidents of the United States who were Freemasons

Since the office was established in 1789, 45 persons have served as president of the United States. Of these, 14 (around 31%) are known to have been Freemasons, beginning with the nation's first president, George Washington, and most recently the 38th president, Gerald R. Ford.

List

The following U.S. presidents were Freemasons:

Name Presidency Details
George-Washington.jpg George Washington
(1732–1799)
1st • April 30, 1789 –
         March 4, 1797
Initiated on November 4, 1752, in Fredericksburgh Lodge No. 4, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Elected Worshipful Master on December 20, 1788.
James Monroe White House portrait 1819.jpg James Monroe
(1758–1831)
5th • March 4, 1817 –
         March 4, 1825
Initiated on November 9, 1775, in Williamsburg Lodge No. 6, Williamsburg, Virginia at the age of 17 while he studied at the College of William & Mary.
Andrew Jackson.jpg Andrew Jackson
(1767–1845)
7th • March 4, 1829 –
         March 4, 1837
Member of St. Tammany (later Harmony) Lodge No. 1, Nashville, Tennessee. Elected Grand Master of Tennessee on October 7, 1822, and served until October 4, 1824.
JamesKnoxPolk.png James K. Polk
(1795–1849)
11th • March 4, 1845 –
           March 4, 1849
Initiated on June 5, 1820, in Columbia Lodge No. 31, Columbia, Tennessee.
JamesBuchanan crop.jpg James Buchanan
(1791–1868)
15th • March 4, 1857 –
           March 4, 1861
Initiated on December 11, 1816, in Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the counties of Lancaster, Lebanon and York in 1824.
President Andrew Johnson.jpg Andrew Johnson
(1808–1875)
17th • April 15, 1865 –
           March 4, 1869
Initiated on May 5, 1851, in Greenville Lodge No. 119, Greenville, Tennessee.
James Abram Garfield, photo portrait seated.jpg James A. Garfield
(1831–1881)
20th • March 4, 1881 –
           September 19, 1881
Initiated on November 19, 1861, in Magnolia Lodge No. 20, Columbus, Ohio and raised on November 22, 1864 in Columbus Lodge No. 30. Joined Garrettsville Lodge No. 246, Garrettsville, Ohio in 1866 and was its chaplain for the years 1868-69. Charter Member of Pentalpha Lodge No. 23, Washington, D.C.
William McKinley by Courtney Art Studio, 1896.jpg William McKinley
(1843–1901)
25th • March 4, 1897 –
           September 14, 1901
Initiated on May 1, 1865, in Hiram Lodge No. 21, Winchester, Virginia. Joined Canton Lodge No. 60, Canton, Ohio in 1867. Charter member of Eagle (later William McKinley) Lodge No. 431, also in Canton.
President Theodore Roosevelt, 1904.jpg Theodore Roosevelt
(1858–1919)
26th • September 14, 1901 –
           March 4, 1909
Initiated on January 2, 1901, in Matinecock Lodge No. 806, Oyster Bay, New York.
Anders L. Zorn - William Howard Taft - Google Art Project.jpg William H. Taft
(1857–1930)
27th • March 4, 1909 –
           March 4, 1913
Made a Mason at Sight on February 18, 1909, in Kilwinning Lodge No. 356, Cincinnati, Ohio
Warren G Harding-Harris & Ewing.jpg Warren G. Harding
(1865–1923)
29th • March 4, 1921 –
           August 2, 1923
Initiated on June 28, 1901, in Marion Lodge No. 70, Marion, Ohio. Raised on August 27, 1920 in that Lodge.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - NARA - 196715.jpg Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882–1945)
32nd • March 4, 1933 –
            April 12, 1945
Initiated on October 11, 1911, in Holland Lodge No. 8, New York City. Was made a Prophet-at-Sight in Tri-Po-Bed Grotto on October 30, 1931. Made Honorary Grand Master of the Order of DeMolay on April 13, 1934.
Harry S. Truman.jpg Harry S. Truman
(1884–1972)
33rd • April 12, 1945 –
           January 20, 1953
Initiated on February 9, 1909, in Belton Lodge No. 450, Belton, Missouri. First Worshipful Master of Grandview Lodge No. 618, Grandview, Missouri in 1911. Elected Grand Master of Missouri on September 25, 1940 and served until October 1, 1941. Received the 33rd Degree on October 19, 1945. Made Honorary Grand Master of the Order of DeMolay on May 18, 1959.
Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped).jpg Gerald Ford
(1913–2006)
38th • August 9, 1974 –
          January 20, 1977
Initiated on September 30, 1949, in Malta Lodge No. 465, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Passed on April 20, 1951 and raised on May 18 of that year in Columbia Lodge No. 3, Washington, D.C. Received the 33rd Degree on September 26, 1962. Made Honorary Grand Master of the Order of DeMolay in April 1975.

In addition to the individuals listed above, Lyndon B. Johnson was initiated into the first degree of Freemasonry – "Entered Apprentice", October 30, 1937, in Johnson City Lodge No. 561, at Johnson City, Texas, but did not advance any further and did not become a full member of his lodge, Ronald Reagan was made an honorary Freemason, and as a youth, Bill Clinton was a member of the Order of DeMolay. Also, there is speculation suggesting that Thomas Jefferson was a Freemason; however, there is no record of him being initiated into any lodge, nor are there any references to Masonic membership in his personal papers.

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See also


This page was last updated at 2022-10-20 19:10 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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