Discover All 8 Presidents That Were Born in Virginia

When we talk about the Presidents of the United States, we usually talk about their personal lives because we find them fascinating. We also talk about their accomplishments (or if they had any) while in office. But we never wonder about where they were born in the US.

Several men have been born in New York, two have been born in North Carolina, and only one in Connecticut. When it comes to Virginia, a record eight presidents have been born there. That’s why the state is considered the Mother of Presidents.

Let’s explore all eight presidents who were born in Virginia. We will also briefly highlight where they were born and other places in the state they lived in.

George Washington

George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, VA on February 22, 1732. He served as the first president from 1789 to 1797. He died on December 14, 1799, in Mount Vernon, VA (aged 67). Washington is best known as the main general who led the colonists during the American Revolution. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was chosen to become the first president by the Constitution electors. Let’s look at some facts about his presidency and the places he lived.

Washington Presidency

• He established the first national bank.
• Signed the Judiciary Act of 1789, creating federal and lower courts.
• Created the first Cabinet advisers.
• Issued a Proclamation of Neutrality when Great Britain and France announced they would go to war.
• Crushed the Whiskey Rebellion, establishing the federal government’s military power.
• Signed the Jay Treaty to avoid going to war with Great Britain and settling differences created after the revolution.

Places He Lived In

Washington was born in Popes Creek, located in Westmoreland County, VA and two years later his father took the family to live in Little Hunting Farm (which is now Mount Vernon) before they settled at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, VA. Eventually, after his brother Lawrence died, he settled in Mount Vernon, VA.

As president, he lived in the nation’s capitals — first in New York for a year and then in Philadelphia for the remainder of his presidency. He signed the law to establish the nation’s capital in Washington D.C., though he never lived there. Upon retiring, he moved back to Mount Vernon.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, VA on April 13, 1743. He served as the third president from 1801 to 1809. He died on July 4, 1826, in Charlottesville, VA (aged 83). One of the Founding Fathers, Jefferson was the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence. He shaped American foreign policy while he was Minister to France and Secretary of State under George Washington. Although he lost the presidency when he ran for the first time in 1796, he managed to win in 1800. Let’s look at some facts about his presidency and the places he lived.

Jefferson Presidency

• Established the precedent of sending a State of the Union message to Congress.
• Signed the bill establishing the Library of Congress.
• Purchased the Louisiana Territory, which greatly expanded America’s lands.
• Reduced the National Debt and ensured prudent government spending.
• Abolished international slave trade in 1807.
• Signed the Embargo Act of 1807 to force France and Great Britain to recognize neutrality, but ended up hurting the American economy more and led to the War of 1812.

Places He Lived In

Jefferson was born at the family plantation in Shadwell, VA, but his father moved his family to the Tuckahoe Plantation in 1745. But Jefferson moved back in 1752. He lived in Williamsburg, VA when he studied at the College of William and Mary. In 1768, he began construction on his estate, Monticello. When he was Governor of Virginia from 1779-1781, he lived in Williamsburg and Richmond. 

In 1784, Jefferson was appointed Minister to France and lived in Paris for 5 years until 1789 when George Washington appointed him Secretary of State. He lived in Philadelphia for four years until 1793 and again as Vice President from 1797-1800. When the nation’s capital moved to Washington, D.C., he established residence there until his retirement as president in 1809. He moved back to Monticello, where he lived until he died.

James Madison

James Madison was born in Port Conway, VA on March 16, 1751. He served as the fourth president from 1809 to 1817. He died on June 28, 1836, in Montpelier, VA (aged 85). One of the Founding Fathers, he was instrumental in deciding what the government of the US would look like. He was a Congressman for eight years and later became Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson. Let’s explore his presidency and the places he lived.

Madison Presidency

• Led the country successfully through the War of 1812.
• Established the Second Bank of the United States in 1816.
• Established the Tariff of 1816, enabling the US to protect any goods produced in the country from competition abroad.
• Increased military spending to ensure the US can properly defend itself against any enemies.

Places He Lived In

Madison lived in Port Conway, VA for the first decade of his life before his family moved to Montpelier, VA. He moved to New Jersey to study at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). He lived in New York and Philadelphia when he was a Congressman representing Virginia. Upon becoming Secretary of State in 1801, he moved to Washington D.C. When he left the presidency, he moved to Montpelier, VA, living there until he died.

James Monroe

James Monroe was born in Monroe Hall, VA on April 28, 1758. He served as the fifth president from 1817 to 1825. He died on July 4, 1831, in New York City, NY (aged 73). Monroe served in the military during the American Revolution. Afterward, he became a lawyer in Virginia and started his political career as a delegate in the House of Delegates. Monroe held several positions in the federal government — Senator, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Minister to France and the UK. Let’s explore some facts about him, his presidency, and the places he lived.

Monroe Presidency

• Established the Monroe Doctrine, which stated America’s opposition to European colonialism in North and South America.
• Signed the Missouri Compromise, which balanced the power between slave and free states.
• Annexed Florida in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.

Places He Lived In

He was born in Monroe Hall in Westmoreland County, VA, where he lived as a child. Monroe later lived in Williamsburg, VA during his college years at the College of William and Mary. He joined the army for the American Revolution and lived in various places, including New York City and Fredericksburg. After marriage, he took his family to Charlottesville, VA. He lived in the nation’s capitals for short periods, as well.

When Monroe was Minister to France from 1794-1796, Monroe lived in Paris. As Governor of Virginia, he lived in Richmond. He also lived in London when was Minister to the UK from 1803-1807. As Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and President, he lived in Washington D.C. Once he retired, he moved to Monroe Hill until his wife died in 1830 when he moved to New York City to live with his daughter. It was there where he died.

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison was born in Charles City County, VA on February 9, 1773. He served as the ninth president in 1841. He died on April 4, 1841, in Washington, D.C. (aged 68). Establishing himself in the military as a competent leader, he led wars against Native Americans during America’s expansion, famously winning the Battle of Tippecanoe, which gave him the nickname “Tippecanoe.” He was also Governor of the Indiana Territory, a Congressman, and a US Senator from Ohio. Let’s look at some facts about his presidency and the places he lived.

Harrison Presidency

Harrison was only president for a month and did not do something of substance, although he took a pledge to reform executive appointments. When he died, John Tyler was Vice President and took it upon himself to be President, establishing a precedent that the Vice President would become President upon the death of said President. Harrison holds the record as the shortest-lived president in history. 

Places He Lived In

He lived in Charles City County, VA until he attended college at Hampden-Sydney, VA. He later moved to Philadelphia to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon joining the military, he lived in various places in the US including Ohio. Afterward, he settled at his family residence in North Bend, Ohio.

While he was a Congressman, he lived back and forth between Washington D.C., and Ohio. He briefly lived in Bogotá, Colombia when he was Minister of Gran Colombia in 1829. Finally, he took up residence at the White House when he became President, where he died.

John Tyler

John Tyler was born in Charles City County, VA on March 29, 1790. He served as the 10th president from 1841 to 1845. He died on January 18, 1862, in Richmond, VA (aged 71). Tyler entered politics at a young age and became a Virginia House Delegate. He later became a Congressman and Governor of Virginia. He served as a US Senator before becoming Vice President. Tyler was only Vice President for 31 days, as his predecessor, William Henry Harrison, died a month into his presidency. Let’s look at his presidency and the places he lived.

Tyler Presidency

• Signed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, establishing the border between Maine and Canada.
• Signed the Preemption Act of 1841, allowing a person to claim 160 acres of public land in western territories and buy it from the federal government.
• Annexed Texas in 1844, but the passing of the treaty failed at first (it later was successful and Texas became a state in late 1845).
• Signed a bill to make Florida a state in 1845.

Places He Lived In

Tyler lived on the family plantation where he was born for several years until moving to Williamsburg to attend the College of William and Mary. During his time in Congress, he would go back and forth between Washington D.C., and Virginia. While he was Governor of Virginia, he lived in Richmond. As Vice President and President, he lived in Washington D.C.

Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor was born in Barboursville, VA on November 24, 1784. He served as the 12th president from 1849 to 1850. He died on July 9, 1850, in Washington, D.C. (aged 65). Taylor had a decorated military career, where he triumphed in the Mexican-American War. He explored a career in politics and was ultimately convinced to run for President with the Whig Party. He died in office after only a year and a few months. Let’s explore his presidency and the places he lived.

Taylor Presidency

• Worked with Congress on the Compromise of 1850 (which passed after his death). It fleshed out disagreements between free and slave states and made California a state.

Places He Lived In

Although he was born in Virginia, as a child his family moved to Louisville, KY where he lived for most of his life. As a military man, he lived in several places throughout the Midwest but his home base was a plantation in Louisville. Upon becoming President, he moved into the White House, where he died in 1850.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, VA on December 28, 1856. He served as the 28th president from 1913 to 1921. He died on February 3, 1924, in Washington, D.C. (aged 67). Wilson was a lawyer, practicing law in the South for several years. He was also an academic and taught at several colleges and universities. He entered politics and became Governor of New Jersey in 1911. Let’s explore his presidency and the places he lived.

Wilson Presidency

• Led the country through World War I. 
• Created the League of Nations, which is an international organization that promoted world peace and considered the “trial run” for the eventual United Nations.
• Appointed the first Jewish justice to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis.
• Signed a bill prohibiting child labor.
• The 19th Amendment passed during his presidency, giving women the right to vote.
• Ensured railroad workers had an eight-hour workday.
• Established the Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Commission.

Places He Lived In

Wilson lived the first two years of his life in Staunton, VA before moving to Augusta, GA. When he was 14, he moved to Columbia, SC, and then to Davidson, NC as a student at Davidson College. After one year, he transferred to Princeton University and lived in Princeton, NJ. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, VA.

He practiced law in Wilmington, NC, and Atlanta, GA. A lifelong academic, he got his doctoral degree in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins University. He briefly taught at Bryn Mawr College, a women’s college in Bryn Mawr, PA, and Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, before joining the staff at Princeton University in New Jersey. He later became President of Princeton. Upon becoming President of the United States, he lived in Washington D.C., where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Conclusion

And there you have it, those are all eight presidents born in Virginia. Virginia holds the record for having the most presidents born in a state. Four of them are considered Founding Fathers and the other four also equally shaped American history and politics.