Thursday, December 2, 2010

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, 44TH PRESIDENT

Barack Obama is the first African-American to be elected President of the United States with his wife Michelle Robinson Obama being the first African-American to become First Lady. Before being elected President, Obama was the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the first African-American to head up the Harvard Law Review. Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His parents were Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. and Stanley Ann Durham. On his father's side, Obama is descended from a line of tribal chiefs from Kenya. His father was attending the East-West Institute at the University of Hawaii as a visiting student when he met Obama's mother. After a short marriage, his father returned to Kenya and his mother remarried to Lolo Soetoro and moved to Indonesia. From his mother's second marriage, Barack Obama as a half sister, Maya Soetoro. After living in Indonesia briefly, Obama returned to Hawaii where he was primarily raised by his grandparents on his mother's side, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Lee Payne. On his mother's side, Obama shares a common descent from Samuel Hinckley with President George W. Bush (his 11th cousin). Obama also shares a common descent from Philip Arment and Maria Elizabeth Schmidt with former President Lyndon Johnson *his 4th cousin). Obama also shares a common descent from Michael Gutknecht with former President Harry Truman (his 7th cousin). Obama also shares a common descent from Adriian Gordy with former President Jimmy Carter (his 8th cousin), Obama also shares a common descent from Joseph Holley with former President Gerald Ford (his 10th cousin). Obama also shares a common descent from Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, and Elizabeth Bohun, with former Presidents Franklin Rooseelt, John Quincy Adams, james Madison, and Zachary Taylor. From this line, President Obama is descended from English Royalty. With former presidents George Washington, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Rooseelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Woodrow Wilson, Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, and Jimmy Carter, Obama shares a common descent from King Edward I of England, King Henry III of England, King John Lackland of England, King Henry II of England, King Henry I of England, King William I of England (i.e. William "the Conqueror"0, Count Baldwin of Flanders and his daughter Matilda, Kinng Robert Capet I of France, King Louis I of France, and Charlemagne. Obama also shares a common descent with former President George Washington with Halfdan, King of Denmark and Sweden and Woden Oden. Obama also shares a common descent through Richard Eltonhead with Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. One of his earliest known ancestors in America on his mother's side is believed to have been the first African-American slave in American. His name was John Punch and he was initially brought as a black indentured servant to colonial Virginia. After he ran away from the person he was indentured to, however, when he was captured in Maryland and sent back to Virginia the court declared that his indenture thereafter was to be for life (i.e. thus becoming a slave). His mother's ancestors from John Punch, as a result of his marrying a white wife, were considered as whites, however, and eventually migrated to the midwest, with his mother being from Wichita, Kansas. For a detailed family tree of his father's side, see http://www.gencircles.com/users/kristinhopper/3/data/13052 For a detailed family tree of his mother's side, see http://www.gencircles.com/users/kristinhopper/3/data/13053
President Obama as a young boy with his mother, Stanley Ann Durham.

President Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.
Barack Obama with his wife Michelle and children.
President Obama with his sister Maya Soetoro in Hawaii.

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GEORGE W. BUSH, 43RD PRESIDENT

George W. Bush was the first business school graduate to be elected President. Before being elected President, he was Governor of Texas and before that the managing partner of the Texas Rangers professional baseball team. He is the second son of a President to also be elected President as was his father, with the first father-son combination being John Adams and John Quincy Adams. George W. Bush was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. His parents are President Herbert Walker Bush and Barbara Pierce. Along with his father, George W. Bush is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and numerous English kings, as well as sharing a common Spencer ancestry with President George Washington, Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. Along with his father, George W. Bush shares a common descent from John Warren with President James Garfield. His grandfather on his father's side, Prescott Sheldon Bush, was an investment banker and a U.S. Senator. His great-grandfather, Samuel Prescott Bush, was President of Buckeye Steel Castings in Columbus, Ohio. As a result of supplying steel parts for the many railroads that the Harriman family owned, the Bush family became close to the Harriman family with Prescott Sheldon Bush going to work in investment banking with Averell Harriman as President of Brown Brothers Harrisman and Company in New York City. Another great-grandfather, George Herbert Walker, helped organize the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair as well as the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Walker Cup golf matches. George W. Bush shares a common descent from Samuel Hinckley, an early New England settlers, with President Barack Obama. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents01265

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT

William Jefferson Clinton, known as Bill, was the first President to be a Rhodes Scholar. He was also the second President to have articles of impeachment issued against him by the U.S. House of Representatives, though he was acquitted by the U.S. Senate. During his two-term presidency, he presided over one of the most prosperous eras in U.S. history. Later, his wife Hillary Clinton, would run for President and, after being defeated by Barack Obama in the Democratic Party primary election, was appointed Secretary of State. In addition to being highly ranked as having two successful terms as President, Bill Clinton is viewed as having one of the most successful post-presidencies of any ex-U.S. President. Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas three months after his father died in a car accident. His parents were William Jefferson Blythe and Virginia Dell Cassidy. His oldest traceable ancestors are his great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather Ephraim Farr who died in North Carolina in 1784 and his great-great-great-great-great grandfather Bryan Spradley who was born in Virginia around 1737. Another early ancestor was Adam Lockhart who was born on September 6, 1765 in Princess Anne County, Virginia. For a detailed family tree of his mother's side of the family, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, 41ST PRESIDENT

At one point during the first Iraq war to push Iraq out of Kuwait, George H.W, Bush enjoyed one of the highest popularity ratings of any president, but lost his re-election bid to Bill Clinton when his popularity dropped because of a sagging economy. George H. W. Bush was born on July 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. His parents were Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Walker. Along with his son, President George W. Bush, he is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and numerous English kings. Both President George H. W. Bush and his son George W. Bush also share a common Spencer ancestry with presidents George Washington, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding as well as with Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. Bush and his son also are descended from Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. Bush and his son George W. Bush are also descended from Anne Hutchinson, who migrated and helped found the colony of Rhode Island after being banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because of her religious beliefs. Bush and his son also share a common Beekman ancestry with Eleanor Roosevelt and presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Bush and his son also share a common descent from Lucas Vanderburgh with President Gerald Ford. Also, President Bush and his son share a common descent from John Warren with President Garfield. Finally, President George H. W. Bush and his son George W. Bush both share a common descent from early New England settler Samuel Hinckley with President Barack Obama. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents698

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF RONALD REAGAN, 40TH PRESIDENT

At age 69, Ronald Reagan was the oldest individual to be elected President of the United States. He also was the first actor and the only individual to be divorced who served as President. During his first term, Reagan survived an assassination attempt. After his presidency, Reagan was diagnosed as having alzheimer's disease and retired out of public life. In presidential rankings, Reagan ranks near the top of America's presidents. Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. His parents were John Edward Reagan and Nelle (Clyde) Wilson. His father's ancestors were of Irish descent while his mother's ancestors were of Scottish descent. On his father's side, his great-grandfather Michael Reagan migrated from Ireland to London, England during the great potato famine in Ireland, and then migrated to America in 1856 where he settled in Fairhaven, Illinois. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents89

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JIMMY CARTER, 39TH PRESIDENT

Despite coming from a rural background, Jimmy Carter was our first U.S. President to be born in a hospital. Before entering politics, he studied nuclear physics at the U.S. Naval Academy and served as an officer aboard a nuclear submarine. Carter was elected President as a Washington outsider after the Watergate scandal of the Nixon administration. While only serving one term, Carter is credited with both negotiating a Middle East Peace Accord and modernizing the U.S. military with smart weapons and other advanced technology. After his Presidency, Carter founded the Carter Center in Atlanta and has helped in many peace negotiations and the monitoring of elections around the world. For his peace efforts, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. His parents were James Earl Carter and Lillian Gordy. Carter shares a common descent from John Carter, an early settler of Virginia and an ancestor of Robert "King" Carter who was the wealthiest man in colonial Virginia, with presidents William Henry Harrison and his son Benjamin Harrison. Through his descent from William Strother of Virginia on his father's side, Carter is descended from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror", and numerous other English kings. Also descended from William Strother were presidents Zachary Taylor and John Tyler. Jimmy Carter also shares a common descent from Christopher Almy and Richard Morris with President Richard Nixon. Finally, President Carter shares a common descent from Adrian Gordy with President Obama (they are 8th cousins). For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1671

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GERALD FORD, 38TH PRESIDENT

Upon assuming the office of President after the resignation of President Richard Nixon, he declared that "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances." In fact, Ford had never even been elected to the position of Vice President, having only been appointed to that office upon the resignation of Spiro Agnew. As such, Ford ascended to the office of President in the wake of two scandals and the resignation of a Vice President and a President. One of his first acts as President was to pardon former President Richard Nixon in what was to be the most controversial acts of presidency. While President, Ford escaped two assassination attempts on his life. Ford went on to become the oldest living president at the time he died. Gerald Ford was born on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents were Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner. Originally named Leslie Lynch King, Jr., after his mother got divorced, Ford assumed the name of his new stepfather. Aftering starring on the University of Michigan football team, je rejected offers to play professional football and instead went to law school and eventually entered politics. On his mother's side, Ford is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and from Arthur Howland, brother of Mayflower passenger John Howland and himself a passenger on the second ship to Plymouth, Massachusetts. President Ford also shares a common descent from Joseph Holley with President Barack Obama (is his 10th cousin). For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1655

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF RICHARD M. NIXON, 37TH PRESIDENT

Richard M. Nixon is the only U.S. President to resign from office after facing otherwise almost certain impeachment and forced removal from office because of the Watergrate scandal. This involved a cover-up of an illegal break-in of the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, DC. Richard Nixon also previously served as Vice President under President Dwight Eisenhower. Richard Nixon was born on January 13, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. His parents were Francis Anthony Nixon and Hannah Milhous. On his father's side, Nixon was of Scotch-Irish descent while on his mother's side he was of German-English-Irish descent. On his mother's side, Nixon is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and Arthur Howland, a brother of Mayflower passenger John Howland who himself was a passenger on the second ship to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Nixon shares a common descent from Christopher Almy and Richard Morris with President Jimmy Carter. Nixon's daughter Julie married David Eisenhower, grandson of President Dwight Eisenhower. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents185

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF LYNDON B. JOHNSON, 36TH PRESIDENT

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President about Air Force One following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Johnson was the first President to be sworn into office by a woman. Johnson is best remembered negatively for the escalation of the war in Vietnam while positively he is remembered for his Great Society and passage of the Civil Rights Act and Medicare. Lyndon Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 near Stonewall, Texas. His parents were Samuel Early Johnson, Jr. and Rebekah Baines. On his father's side, his great-great-great-great grandfather John Bunton moved from Scotland and settled in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1758. His great-great-great grandfather John Johnson was a veteran of the Revolutionary War from Georgia. His grandfather, Jesse Johnson, moved to Texas in 1848. He was a rancher-drover and Confederate army veteran. Finally, Johnson's father, Samuel Early Johnson, was a school teacher, farmer, trader and member of the state legislature. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2240

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, 35TH PRESIDENT

John F. Kennedy was our second youngest President (age 43) after Teddy Roosevelt, our first Roman Catholic President, and our fourth President to be assassinated. Major events of his presidency included the Cuban Missle Crisis and his initiation of the space program to land a man on the moon within ten years. During his presidency, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy refurbished the White House with many antiques and a decor from its early history, replacing most of the newer and cheaper furniture that had been installed by Harry Truman when he rebuilt the White House. John Kennedy was born on May 19, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. His parents were Joseph Patrick Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Both of his parents were of Irish descent. On his father's side, Kennedy's first ancestor to come to America was Patrick Kennedy who came from Dunganstown, Ireland to Boston in 1823. His next Kennedy ancestor was elected to the Massachusetts legislature. On his mother's side, his granfather Honey Fitz was mayor of Boston. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1604

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, 34TH PRESIDENT

During World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and was responsible for the planning of D-Day and the defeat of the Germans. As President, he is best remembered for the building of our Interstate Highway System and the sending of federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to enforce school integration. Dwight Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas. His parents were David Jacob Eisenhower and Ida Elizabeth Stover. On his father's side, Eisenhower's great-great-great grandfather Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer emigrated from the Palatinate area of Germany to Philadelphia in 1741 and settled in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. In 1878, his great-grandfather Frederick Eisenhower moved the family to Abilene, Kansas. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1583

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF HARRY S. TRUMAN, 33RD PRESIDENT

Harry S. Truman became President upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Upon hearing of Roosevelt's death he rushed to the White House where he asked Eleanor Roosevelt if there was anything he could do to help her. She replied that the question was whether there was anything she could now do to help Truman. At the time, the U.S. was still fighting World War II. Truman made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to help speed the end of the war and later was the first President to deal with the Cold War with the Soviet Union. His Truman Doctrine advocated a policy of containment of the spread of Communism. During his presidency, he had the White House interior gutted and replaced with a modern interior with steel girders and several basements. He also installed what is known as the Truman Balcony on the South Portico of the White House. Harry Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. His parents were John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young. His father's ancestors were originally from Kentucky but moved to Westport Landing (now Kansas City), Missouri. On his mother's side, Truman is descended from Jacob Young, Jr. and Rachel Goodnight of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. President Truman shares a common descent from Michael Gutknecht with President Barack Obama (they are 7th cousins). For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1763

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, 32ND PRESIDENT

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is generally ranked among the top three U.S. Presidents along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. He is the only president to serve four terms in office, serving as President during the Great Depression and World War II. While President, Roosevelt had to use a wheelchair as he had been crippled by polio as an adult. After becoming crippled, his wife Eleanor Roosevelt helped him in giving speeches and other political activities. Franklin D. Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882 at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York. His parents were James Roosevelt and Sara Delano. Franklin Roosevelt was a fifty cousin of President Teddy Roosevelt and a sixth cousin of his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. He is a descendant of John Howland, a Mayflower passenger. He shares a common Spencer ancestry with presidents George Washington, Calvin Coolidge, Warren Harding, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush as well as Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. On his father's side, he shares a common descent from Thomas Sheppard and Ann Tying with President John Quincy Adams. On his mother's side, he shares a common descent from Jonathan Delano and Mercy Warren with presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Calvin Coolidge. From Richard FitzAlan and his wife Elizabeth de Bohun, Franklin Roosevelt shares a common descent with Presidents Barack Obama, John Quicny Adams, James Madison, and Zachary Taylor. Like George Washington and mnay other presidents, Franklin Roosevelt is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and numerous kings of England. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1787

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF HERBERT HOOVER, 31ST PRESIDENT

Herbert Hoover was one of the most successful businessmen and humanitarian of his age, but had the bad luck to be President when the Great Depression broke out. Herbert Hoover was born on August 10, 1874 in West Branch, Iowa. His parents were Jesse Clark Hoover and Hulda Randall Minthorn. Like many U.S. Presidents, Hoover is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and numerous kings of England. He is also descended from Anne Bradstreet, author of the first book of poetry in America, and her father, Governor Thomas Dudley, second Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He also shares a common descent from Henry Sherman with Roger Sherman (signer of the U.S. Constitution), Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother U.S. Senator John Sherman, and Sir Winston Churchill. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1818

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF CALVIN COOLIDGE, 30TH PRESIDENT

Calvin Coolidge is the only President to be sworn into office by his father. He also was responsible for lighting the first national Christmas tree in what has become an annual ceremony. Known as "Silent Cal," Calvin Coolidge was born July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont. His parents were John Calvin Coolidge and Victoria Josephine Moor. Calvin Coolidge shares a common Delano ancestry with presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ulysses S. Grant. He shares a common Littlefield ancestry with President Millard Fillmore. He shares a common Cogswell ancestry with presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams as well as with Herbert Hoover's wife Lou Henry. He shares a common descent from Henry Squire with presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Millard Fillmore and William Howard Taft. He shares a common descent from William Talvas Le Despenser with presidents George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Warren Harding, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush as well as with Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1844

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF WARREN G. HARDING, 29TH PRESIDENT

Warren G. Harding is the only newspaper publisher to be elected and was the first President to speak over the radio. Unfortunately, the Harding presidency is best remembered today for its many scandals, including the Teapot Dome scandal. Warren Harding was born on November 2, 1865 in Corsica, Ohio. His parents were George Tyron Harding and Phoebe Elizabeth Dickerson. Warren Harding shares a common descent from William Talvas Montgomery Le Despenser, born in 1100 in Lincolnshire, England, with presidents George Washington, Calvin Coolidge, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush as well as Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. He is also descended from Charlemagne and several English kings. His great-grandmother was Elizabeth Madison, a relative of President James Madison. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2095

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF WOODROW WILSON, 28TH PRESIDENT

Woodrow Wilson is the only U.S. President to be buried at Washington National Cathedral. He is best remembered for serving as President during World War I. Afterwards, he unsuccessfully lobbied for the U.S. to join the newly-formed League of Nations. As President, Wilson signed the amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856 in Stanton, Virginia. His parents were Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Janet E. Wilson. On his father's side, Wilson is descended from the kings of Scotland and from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." His Scottish ancestors moved to Ireland and became part of the Scotch-Irish migration to America. Woodrow Wilson's second wife, Edith Bolling, was descended from both Pocahontas and from Peter Jefferson, the father of Thomas Jefferson, through Thomas Jefferson's sister. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1830

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, 27TH PRESIDENT

William Howard Taft is the only U.S. President to also serve as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Because of his large size, a special bathtub had to be installed in the White House during his presidency. William Howard Taft was born on September 15, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Alphonso Taft and Louisa Maria Torrey. On his father's side, Taft is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", and Earl Gilbert de Clare. His father along with another individual formed the "Skull and Bones" secret society at Yale University. Later, his father was to serve as Attorney General of the United States and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant. On his mother's side, Taft is descended from Henry Squire, a common ancestor of presidents Calvin Coolidge, Millard Fillmore, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2075

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT, 26TH PRESIDENT

Theodore Roosevelt was our youngest President (age 42) and was both the first American and the first President to win the Nobel Prize. He also was the first President to refer to the Executive Mansion as the White House. Before becoming President, he was a war hero, leading the Rough Riders in a charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American war. Teddy Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858 in New York City. His parents were Theodore Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch. His father was from a Dutch mercantile family that was one of the most prominent families in New York. On his mother's side, Roosevelt was of Scotch-Irish and French Hugenot, with his mother ancestors going back to Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." Theodore Roosevelt was a fifth cousin to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was an uncle to Eleanor Roosevelt. He shares a distant relationship by marriage to President Martin Van Buren. For a more detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1560

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF WILLIAM McKINLEY, 25TH PRESIDENT

William McKinley was our last Civil War veteran to be elected President and our third President to be assassinated. He served as President during the Spanish-American which resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast overseas territories. William McKinley was born January 29, 1843 in Niles, Ohio. His parents were William McKinely and Nancy Campbell Allison. On his father's side, he was of Scotch-Irish descent. His great grandfather was from York County, Pennsylvania and fought in the Revolutionary War. His father was an iron manufacturer from Ohio. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2056

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GROVER CLEVELAND, 24TH PRESIDENT

Grover Cleveland was the only President to be elected to two non-consecutive terms. He also was the only President to be married in the White House and was the first President to have a child born in the White House. He dedicated the Statue of Liberty on October 28, 1886. Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey. His parents were Reverend Richard Falley Cleveland and Anne Neal. On his father's side, Grover Cleveland's ancestry can be traced back to Charlemagne and William 'the Conqueror." On his mother's side, Cleveland is descended from Abner Neal, a prosperous Irish merchant. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1735

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON, 23RD PRESIDENT

Benjamin had the first telephone installed in the White House and had electricity installed in the White House Benjamin Harrison was born on August 20, 1833 in North Bend, Ohio just outside of Cincinnati. His parents were John Scott Harrison and Elizabeth Ramsey Irwin. His grandfather was President William Henry Harrison and his great-grandfather was Virginia Governor Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin shares a common ancestry from John Carter, an early Virginia settler, with President Jimmy Carter. He is also descended from William Livingston, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and his son, John Cleves Symmes, who purchased much of the land around Cincinnati from the Old Northwest Territory. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1476

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GROVER CLEVELAND, 22ND PRESIDENT

Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey. His parents were Reverend Richard Falley Cleveland and Anne Neal. On his father's side, Grover Cleveland's ancestry can be traced back to Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror," King John "Lackland" of England, King Henry III of England, King Edward I of England, Hugh Capet, King Robert II of France, King Robert I of France, and King Philippe I of France. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.gencircles.com/users/kristinhopper/3/data/5941

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR, 21ST PRESIDENT

Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as President after the assassination of President Garfield. A year after becoming President, Arthur was diagnosed with Blight's disease, a fatal kidney disease. Chester Arthur was born on October 5, 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont. His parents were William Arthur and Malvina Stone. Chester Arthur's father was a Baptist minister from Ireland who migrated to New York City. His mother, Malvina Stone, was from Vermont. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1967

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JAMES A. GARFIELD, 20TH PRESIDENT

James Abram Garfield was our second President to be assassinated and was the last of seven Presidents to be born in a log cabin. James A. Garfield was born on November 19, 1831 in Orange, Ohio. His parents were Abram Garfield and Eliza Ballou. James A. Garfield was descended from John Billingham, a Mayflower passenger. He also shares a common descent from John Warren with presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush. For a more detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, 19TH PRESIDENT

Rutherford B. Hayes was our only President whose election was decided by a congressional commission. As President, he pulled federal troops out of the South, thereby ending Reconstruction after the Civil War. It was during his presidency that the White House Easter Egg Roll was initiated as a White House tradition. Rutherford B. Hayes was born on October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio. His parents were Rutherford Hayes and Sophia Birchard. Tracing his family's genealogy back, Rutherford B. Hayes shares a common descent from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror" as many other U.S. Presidents. On his father's side, his family was originally from Connecticut before moving to Ohio and before that was from Scotland and England. His great-great grandfather on his father's side, Captain Ezekial Hayes, fought in the Revolutionary War. On his mother's side, several of his ancestors migrated from England to Massachusetts and Connecticut in the 1600's. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2034

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF ULYSSES S. GRANT, 18TH PRESIDENT

Ulysses S. Grant was the commander of Union forces during the Civil War. At the time of his election as President, he was the most popular man in America. As President, he established Yellowstone as our first National Park. Prior to his death, Mark Twain published his autobiography, which was perhaps the most successful of all presidential autobiographies. Ulysses S. Grant was born on April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio. His parents were Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson. Grant shares a common descent from Jonathan Delano with presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge. He also shares a common descent from Samuel Grant and Mary Porter with presidents Grover Cleveland and Gerald Ford. Grant is also descended from Francis Cooke and Richard Warren, both Mayflower passengers. Like numerous other presidents, Grant is descended from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1987

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF ANDREW JOHNSON, 17TH PRESIDENT

Andrew Johnson was sworn in as President after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He was the first President to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives but was not convicted by the Senate, and thus was not removed from office. Andrew Johnson was born on December 29, 1808 in Raleigh, North Carolina. His parents were Jacob Johnson and Mary McDonough. Jacob Johnson was a poor laborer who along with his wife worked at the Cassos Inn in Raleigh, North Carolina. Andrew Johnson's father died when Andrew was only four so he never had a chance to attend school. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1544

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 16TH PRESIDENT

Abraham Lincoln was our first President to be assassinated. He was President during the Civil War and is perhaps best remembered for his Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in the states in rebellion. His Gettysburg Address is the most famous of all presidential speeches. In most polls of the best U.S. Presidents, he is ranked first or second along with George Washington. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Sinking Spring, Hodegenville, Hardin County, Kentucky. His parents were Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. Abraham Lincoln is descended from Robert Lincoln who died in Hingham, Norfolk, England in 1543. His ancestor, Samuel Lincoln, migrated to Massachusetts in the 1600's. Abraham Lincoln is also descended from Obadiah Holmes who migrated from Lancashire, England to Rhode Island in the 1600's. Little is known about the ancestry of his mother, Nancy Hanks. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents327

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JAMES BUCHANAN, 15TH PRESIDENT

James Buchanan was our only President to never marry and he was one of the oldest, age 65, at his inauguration. James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. His parents were James Buchanan and Elizabeth Speer. Both of his parents were of Irish descent. Buchanan was the first son and second child in a family of ten. He was born in a log cabin in 1791 His father was a storekeeper and a farmer. During his presidency, his neice Harriet Lane served as the White House hostess. As a philanthropist, she was to later found the Johns Hopkin children's hospital. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1926

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF FRANKLIN PIERCE,14TH PRESIDENT

Franklin Pierce is the only President to come from New Hampshire. He is also the first President to have a Christmas tree in the White House. A close family friend was author Nathianel Hawthorne. Franklin Pierce was born on November 23, 1804 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. His parents were Revolutionary War General Benjamin Pierce and Anna Kendrick. Franklin Pierce shares a common Pierce ancestry with President George W. Bush and his mother, First Lady Barbara Bush. He also shares a common descent from Thomas Richard and Katherine Duxford with presidents George W. Bush, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. On his mother's Kendrick side, Franklin Pierce is descended from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1946

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF MILLARD FILLMORE, 13TH PRESIDENT

Millard Fillmore was sworn in as President upon the death of Zachary Taylor. He was the last president to be born in the 18th century. Millard Fillmore was born on January 7, 1800 in Locke, Cayuga, New York. His parents were Nathaniel Fillmore and Phoebe Millard. On his mother's side, Millard Fillmore shares a common descent from Henry Squire with presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and William Howard Taft. He shares a common Littlefield ancestry with President Calvin Coolidge. He is also descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and various other English kings. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2259

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF ZACHARY TAYLOR, 12TH PRESIDENT

Zachary Taylor was an army hero during the Mexican-American War. Prior to becoming President, he had never voted in any election. He was the second President to die in office. Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784 at Montebello, Orange County, Virginia. His parents were Richard Taylor and Sarah Dabney Strother. Zachary Taylor's earliest Taylor ancestor, whome he shares with James Madison and James Polk, was John Taylor (1478- ), a cloth maker from Rothbury, Northumberland, England. His son, Reverend Rowland Taylor, attended Cambridge University and married Margaret Tyndale whose uncle was William Tyndale, the first person to translate the Bible into English. On his father's side, Zachary Taylor is also descended from Colonel Richard Lee, the ancestor of the Lee's of Virginia, including Civil War General Robert E. Lee. Zachary Taylor's great-grandmother was the daughter of Isaac Athertone, a Mayflower passenger and Fear Brewster, daughter of William Brewster, leader of the Pilgrims. Zachary Taylor's mother, Sarah Dabney Strother, shares a common descent from Anthony Savage with presidents James Madison and John Tyler. Anthony Savage, in turn, was descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and various other English kings. Zachary Taylor also shares a common descent from Richard FitzAlan and Elizabeth de Bohun with Presidents Barack Obama, Franklin Roosevelt, James Madison, and Zachary Taylor. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1897

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JAMES POLK, 11TH PRESIDENT

James Polk was the first President to have news of his inauguration to be relayed by telegraph. As President, he acquired territories from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War, thus extending the boundaries of the United States to the Pacific. James Polk was born on November 2, 1795 in Mechlenburg County, North Carolina. His parents were Major Samuel Polk and Jane Knox. James Polk shares a common descent from Reverend Rowland Polk with presidents James Madison and Zachary Taylor. Reverend Rowland Polk was married to the daughter of the brother of William Tyndale, the first person to translate the Bible into English. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1876

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JOHN TYLER, 10TH PRESIDENT

John Tyler was the first Vice President to ascend to the presidency upon the death of the President. He did not make an inaugural speech and was never elected President. During the Civil War, he was elected to the Confederate Congress. He had the most children of any President. He also started the tradition of the playing of "Hail to the Chief" when the President enters a room. His plantation home was named Sherwood Forest. John Tyler was born on March 29, 1790 in Charles City County, Virginia. His parents were Virginia Governor John Tyler and Mary Marot Armistead. John Tyler shares a common descent from Anthony Savage with presidents James Madison and Zachary Taylor. Anthony Savage, in turn, was descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and various other English kings. John Tyler also shares a common ancestry from William Strother with presidents Zachary Taylor and Jimmy Carter. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1685

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 9TH PRESIDENT

William Henry Harrison was our first President to die in office and served the shortest period of time of any President. William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773 at Berkeley Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia. His father was Benjamin Harrison V, Governor of Virginia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who in turn was a descendant of Robert "King" Carter, the richest man in colonial Virginia. His mother was Elizabeth Bassett, with the Bassett family being another prominent family in colonial Virginia. From his father's side, William Henry Harrison is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and various other English kings. William Henry Harrison's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was also elected President of the United States. From the first John Carter to migrate to Virginia, William Henry Harrison and his grandson Benjamin Harrison share a common ancestry with President Jimmy Carter. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents1475

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF MARTIN VAN BUREN, 8TH PRESIDENT

Martin Van Buren was the first President to be born after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The term "OK" was originated in reference to his nickname "Old Kinderhook." He is the only President for which English was not his primary language, with Van Buren being raised in a Dutch family where Dutch was the primary language. Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York. His parents were Abraham Van Buren and Maria Hoes. Martin Van Buren shares a common descent from Dutch ancestor Cornelis Laurens with President Theodore Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2213

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF ANDREW JACKSON, 7TH PRESIDENT

Andrew Jackson was our first President to be born in a log cabin and was the first President to be elected while living west of the Appalachian Mountains. He was also our first President to ride on a train. Known as "Old Hickory," before becoming President he was a famous military hero and Indian fighter. During the War of 1812, he defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans. One of his most controversial acts as President was the removal of all Indians east of the Mississippi, including the Cherokee, resulting in the infamous "Trail of Tears." Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767 in Waxhaws, South Carolina. His parents were Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Hutchinson. Both of Andrew Jackson's parents were from Ireland. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2207

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, 6TH PRESIDENT

John Quincy Adams was the first son of a President to also be elected President. He also was our only President to be elected to Congress after serving as President. As President, he regularly swam nude in the Potomac River. One of his most important acts as President was the creation of the Smithsonian Institution. John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767 in Braintree, Massachusetts. His parents were John Adams, 2nd President of the United States, and Abigail Smith. From his father, John Quincy Adams shares a common ancestry from Henry Adams, a prominent early New England settler, with presidents Calvin Coolidge and William Howard Taft and from Hannah Bass with President Ulysses S. Grant. From his mother, Abigail Smith Adams, John Quincy Adams shares a common ancestry from Thomas Shephard and Ann Tying with President Franklin Roosevelt. He shares a common Cogswell ancestry with presidents Calvin Coolidge and John Adams. John Quincy Adams is also descended from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2114

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JAMES MONROE, 5TH PRESIDENT

As President, James Monroe refurbished the White House after it was burnt during the War of 1812 largely out of his own funds. It was as a result of his refurbishment that the White House was furnished with many of the French furniture and style that we associate with the White House today. James Monroe is perhaps best remembered as President, however, for the Monroe Doctrine he issued as President, opposing any European involvement in the Western Hemisphere. James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 at Monroe's Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia. His parents were Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones. James Monroe is descended from James Stewart IV, King of Scotland, and his wife, Margaret Tudor. From James Stewart, Monroe is descended from the kings of Scotland while from Margaret Tudor he is descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror" and numerous other kings of England. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2189

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JAMES MADISON, 4TH PRESIDENT

James Madison was one of two Presidents (the other being George Washington) who signed the U.S. Constitution, with Madison having authored the Virginia Plan that proposed many of the provisions later adopted as the U.S. Constitution. He also was author of the Bill of Rights. James Madison was born on March 16, 1751 at Port Conway, King George County, Virginia. His parents were Colonel James Madison and Eleanor Rose Nellie Conway. James Madison shares a common ancestry from Anthony Savage with presidents John Tyler and Zachary Taylor. Anthony Savage, in turn, was descended from Charlemagne, William "the Conqueror", Duncan I of Scotland, and various other royalty. As such, James Madison shares more common ancestors with George Washington, who also had extensive royal ancestors, than any other U.S. President. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2172

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, 3RD PRESIDENT

Thomas Jefferson is perhaps best known as being the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He was also a leading spokesman for religious liberty. As President, he approved the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the west. After retiring as President, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at his family's Shadwell Plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. His parents were Colonel Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. From his mother's side of the family, Jefferson shares a common "Randolph" ancestry with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and with Peyton Randolph, First President of the Continental Congress - with the Randolph family being one of the most prominent families in colonial Virginia. From his Randolph side of the family, Thomas Jefferson is descended from Charlemagne and William "the Conqueror." Meanwhile, DNA evidence has revealed that somewhere among Jefferson's ancestors was a Phoenician ancestry. Finally, Thomas Jefferson's sister Martha married John Bolling, a descendant of Pocahontas and an ancestor of Edith Bolling, President Woodrow Wilson's second wife. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2143

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF JOHN ADAMS, 2ND PRESIDENT

John Adams was one of the giants among American patriots in the events leading up to and during the American Revolution. In addition to serving as our nation's second President, he served as our nation's first Vice President under George Washington. John Adams was born to John Adams, a cordwainer and farmer, and Susanna Boylston on October 19, 1735 in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. He was the eldest of three sons. His father was a deacon in the local Congregational church and was also at times the town's tax collector, selectman, constable, and lieutenant of the local militia. His father was a descendant of Henry Adams, a prominent early settler of New England who emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 (and who is also the ancestor of presidents Millard Fillmore, Calvin Coolidge, and William Howard Taft). He also was descended from both John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, Mayflower passengers, as well as another prominent New England settler, Henry Squire from whom presidents Millard Fillmore, Calvin Coolidge and William Howard Taft are also descended. He shares a common Cogswell ancestry with presidents Calvin Coolidge and John Quincy Adams. Finally, he is the first President whose son, John Quincy Adams, was also elected President. For a detailed family tree, see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents2113

GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1ST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Known as the "Father of His Country," George Washington was the indispensable man during and after the American Revolution. Not only did he serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolution, but afterwards he served as President of the Federal Convention of 1787 which drafted the U.S. Constitution and was then unanimously elected as the first President of the United States. In surveys ranking the Presidents, he is consistently ranked first or second. At the time George Washington was elected President, there were no precedents to follow and the executive branch consisted only of himself and his Vice President, John Adams. One of George Washington's greatest attributes was his recognition of talent, with Washington organizing the most impressive Cabinet of any President, including Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State and Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury. George Washington also selected the site for and helped plan our nation's capitol and helped design the U.S. Capitol and the White House. He is also our only President to have led troops in battle during his presidency, which Washington did in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. George Washington was born on February 22 (new calendar) or February 11 (Julian or old style calendar), 1732 at Pope's Creek, Wakefield Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia. After serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Washington retired to his Mount Vernon home. Despite his reluctance, Washington agreed to serve as President of the Federal Convention of 1787 which drafted and adopted the U.S. Constitution. Washington then went on to serve two terms as the first President of the United States. With respect to his ancestry, George Washington has one of the most extensively documented royal genealogies of all the Presidents, with his ancestry traced back to William "the Conqueror" and Charlemagne and most of the kings of England, Scotland, France, Spain, Denmark and even the Prince of Kiev (Russia). He is also descended from most of the Magna Carta surety barons (i.e. barons of England that signed the Magna Carta). George Washington is also shares a common descent from William Talvas Montgomery Le Despenser, born in 1100 in Lincolnshire, England, with presidents Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush as well as Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill. Also, George Washington shares a common descent with Barack Obama from Halfdan, King of Denmark and Sweden and also from Woden Oden. Also, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain shares a common descent from George Washington's great-grandfather Colonel Augustine Warner and his great-grandmother Mildred Reade. With former U.S. Presidents John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Woodrow Wilson, Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, George Washington shares a common descent from King Edward I of England, King Henry III of England, King John I "Lackland" of England, King Henry II of England, King Henry I of England, William "the Conqueror," Count Baldwin of Flanders and his daughter Matilda, King Robert I Capet of France, King Louis I "Pious" of France, and Charlemagne. George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis and they had no children of their own, though George Washington raised the children and grandchildren of Martha from her previous marriage as his own. George Washington was the eldest son of his father, Augustine Washington, by his second marriage to Mary Ball. George Washington was close to his older half-brother Lawrence Washington, who acted as a mentor for young George when his father died. He was also close to his sister Betty and his brothers Charles, Samuel and John Augustine. For more information about George Washington and his immediate ancestors and to see the most extensive collection of portraits of George Washington on the internet, including the ancestral Washington home in England, see http://presidentgeorgewashington.wordpress.com/ For more information about the royal ancestry of George Washington and the other U.S. Presidents, see below postings. For a detailed family tree of George Washington see http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/cssbct/cgi-bin/gedlkup.php/n=presidents?presidents406

Augustine Washington - George Washington's Father

George Washington's father was Augustine Washington with his second wife, Mary Ball. Augustine Washington was prominent in Virginia politics and was owner of the first iron furnace in Virginia. Like his son George Washington, he was known for his height and strength. Augustine Washington's grandfather was John Washington, the first Washington to emigrate to Virginia from England. The Washington family was descended from Scot royal lineage going back to Duncan I, King of Scotland. Over the generations they financial wealth and political influence diminished, even though on several occasions they married into the English royal family.

Mary Ball - George Washington's Mother

George Washington's mother was Mary Ball. She was the daughter of Captain Joseph Ball and Mary Bennett Johnson and the second wife of Augustine Washington. While little is known of her mother, the Balls were a prominent Virginia family. Orphaned when she was young, Mary Ball Washington was raised by her uncle. Like her son George Washington, she was an excellent horse rider, teaching her son the love of horses. After her husband Augustine Washington died, she raised her children on her own with the help of her eldest son, George Washington. She lived at Ferry Farm outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia until she became elderly and moved to a house in Fredericksburg. Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia is named after her.