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The Presidential Deaths: Part 1

  • Sarah Stook

    • Death and taxes are inevitable, as Benjamin Franklin said. Both are unfortunate, though one is a little more permanent than the other.

    Presidents are not exempt from death. Some have been felled or died in office, but most lived long after their presidency. A few died young whilst others lived long lives.

    These are the stories of presidential deaths. They are in order of the deaths, not the order of the presidency. This is part one. 

    George Washington

    George Washington was a busy bee after office. His home of Mount Vernon became a tourist hub and was inundated with visitors. Washington was often unable to keep expenses down due to the cost of accepting visitors. 

    Washington was out surveying the land one day when the weather turned bad and he was drenched. Upon returning to the house, he refused to change out of his wet clothes as he did not want to be late for his guests. He felt a little ill the next day but deteriorated the day after that. Doctors were called. They practiced bloodletting but he continued to feel worse. Due to the medicine of the time, he was given improper treatment that no doubt hastened his passing. 

    He finally died late on the 14th December 1799. The funeral was held on the 18th in a quiet Mount Vernon ceremony. He is buried at Mount Vernon. Martha Washington was buried with him upon her own 1802 death. 

    Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson was elderly and infirm in 1826. His death would have come as no great shock when it finally happened. Doctors offered him pain relief but Jefferson replied with ‘no doctor, nothing more.’ 

    Whilst these are more than likely his last words, those who were with Jefferson reported that he said ‘is it the Fourth?’ It’s incredibly unlikely that these were his actual last words, but it is a commonly repeated story that makes his death seem almost inspiring. This is coupled with the fact that he died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and died the same day as frenemy John Adams. 

    Jefferson was buried at Monticello. Due to his debts, his surviving daughter Martha was forced to sell the iconic home. A sympathetic family would later preserve Monticello and it would be bought by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in 1923. 

    John Adams

    John Adams lost his beloved wife Abigail in 1818- her last words were an assurance that they would be together soon. He and Jefferson infrequently sent one another letters, having been reconciled with him by Abigail. Adams also saw his son John Quincy ascend the presidency after a contentious election. 

    The ninety y/o died at home on the 4th July 1826 as a result of heart failure and lonely old age. His last words were ‘”homas Jefferson survives,” not knowing his frenemy had died earlier that day.

    Adams was buried with Abigail. 

    James Monroe

    James Monroe finished his presidency in 1825 but only enjoyed a few short years of decent health. In 1830, his wife Elizabeth died after many years of being ill. Monroe himself died of heart failure and tuberculosis. His last words were “I regret that I should leave this world without again beholding him.” This was regarding his dear friend James Madison. He was the third consecutive president to die on Independence Day, this one happening to fall on the 55th anniversary. 

    Monroe was originally buried in New York but was eventually reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery in Virginia. 

    James Madison

    Despite being a lifelong hypochondriac, James Madison lived to the relatively good age of 85. His health started to fade as he aged, however. On the 28th June 1836, he was with a niece who asked him “what is the matter, Uncle James?” Madison replied “nothing more than a change of mind, my dear.” He died almost immediately after.

    Madison is buried at Montpelier. Due to his financial troubles, widow Dolley was forced to sell it. She would be buried with him. 

    William Henry Harrison

    Unfortunately known as the shortest-serving President of American history, the death of William Henry Harrison is subject to many falsehoods. Whilst it is true that he made his two hour-long inaugural address in freezing weather without a coat, that is not what killed him. A few weeks after his inauguration, Harrison took a walk around swampy DC, once again without a coat. 

    He started feeling ill a few days later. Over the following week, Harrison became increasingly weak. Old treatments such as bloodletting were used. Nothing worked. He uttered his last words late on the 3rd April – “I understand the true principles of the government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.” This was addressed to Vice President John Tyler, though he was not present. Harrison died just after midnight the next morning.

    His funeral was officially held on the 7th April. He is buried at his tomb in North Bend, Ohio.

    The cause of Harrison’s death is a little mysterious. At the time, it was believed that Harrison died from pneumonia that came from his inauguration. Later scientists speculate he may have had a stomach ailment that came from the White House water supply. This water supply was also believed to have killed Zachary Taylor a decade later. 

    Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson remained behind the scenes in politics right up until his death. He passed away at his home the Hermitage in Tennessee on the 8th June 1845. His last words were to those who surrounded him: “I hope to meet each of you in heaven. Be good, children, all of you, and strive to be ready when the change comes.” Jackson had been suffering from chronic dropsy (oedema), so this combined with heart failure caused his death.

    He was buried at the Hermitage along with his beloved late wife Rachel. She died between his election and first inauguration in 1828.

    John Quincy Adams

    After his presidency finished, John Quincy Adams entered Congress. He was noted for his virulently anti-slavery views. Ten years before his death, he suffered a stroke that left him temporarily incapacitated. On the 21st February 1848, Adams collapsed during a particularly heated session. He ailed in the Speaker’s Room for two days before dying. His last words were “This is the last of Earth. I am content.” Louisa Adams was by his side, but their son Charles was unable to be there in time. One famous person there was young Congressman Abraham Lincoln. 

    His funeral was in the House Chamber on the 26th February. Even his enemies applauded him. Adams’ body was originally laid to rest in the Congressional Cemetery whilst arrangements were made. He would later be buried with his family at United First Parish Church, Quincy, Massachusetts. 

    James K. Polk

    James K. Polk is unfortunately remembered for having the shortest post-presidency. After finishing his promised single term, Polk and his wife Sarah went on a tour. Illness cropped up several times but Polk recovered enough to visit his mother’s house. It was there that it was clear that he was dying of cholera. 

    His last words were said to be to his wife – “I love you Sarah. For all eternity, I love you.” Whilst it is not confirmed for sure, Polk was deeply in love with and devoted to his wife. Sarah would spend 42 years in widowhood. Polk was buried at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Sarah would join him upon her own death in 1891. 

    Zachary Taylor

    Zachary Taylor was a war hero who swept to the presidency as a dark horse confidante. On the 4th July 1850, Taylor enjoyed a White House Independence Day celebration. He then started feeling poorly. After initially feeling good enough to work, his health then took a turn for the worse. It became increasingly clear that Taylor was dying- something that he noted.

    Late on the 9th July 1850, Taylor uttered the words “I regret nothing, but I am sorry to leave my friends.” His funeral occured on the 23rd July and he rested at the Congressional Ceremony before his body was taken to his final resting place. 

    Whilst doctors at the time diagnosed cholera, there isn’t too much certainty on what the actual cause of death was. Soon after Taylor’s death, it was discovered that the water supply to the White House was contaminated by sewage. This has led historians and scientists to believe Taylor was likely killed by typhoid.

    Some said that Taylor was assassinated by pro-slavery Southerners. This rumour persisted so strongly that his remains were exhumed in 1991. Testing revealed that the levels of arsenic in his body was too low for poisoning and that it was stomach related. 

    John Tyler

    At the outbreak of the Civil War, John Tyler pledged his loyalty to Virginia and the Confederacy. In January 1862, Tyler started feeling ill. In the early morning of the 18th January, this exchange occurred:

    Tyler: “Doctor, I am going”

    Doctor: “I hope not, sir”

    Tyler: “Perhaps it is best”

    Moments later, Tyler died of a stroke. His second wife, Julia, was by his side. Due to his allegiance to the Confederacy, he is the only US President to not be buried under the US flag. His funeral was a big Confederate event as directed by Jefferson Davis. He was buried at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Jefferson Davis would also be buried there in 1893. Julia followed upon her death in 1889- she also happened to die in the same hotel that Tyler had. 

    Martin Van Buren

    Martin Van Buren’s health had been declining for some time as July 1862 arrived. On the 24th, Van Buren died early in the morning, his last words being “there is but one reliance.”’” This referred to God. The cause of death was heart failure and bronchial asthma. He is buried with his wife and parents at the Kinderhook Reformed Dutch Church in New York.

    Interestingly, four of Van Buren’s immediate successors predeceased him. He would live to see eight Presidents after him. 

    Abraham Lincoln

    Oh boy.

    On the 14th April 1865, as the Civil War simmered to an end, Abraham Lincoln and a small entourage visited Ford’s Theater to see Our American Cousin. During the play, Mary asked her husband “what will Miss Harris [their female guest] think of me hanging onto you so?” Lincoln replied with “she won’t think anything about it.” Those would be his last words.

    John Wilkes Booth, an actor of some renown and a Confederate sympathizer, entered the box and shot Lincoln once in the head before escaping. Chaos ensued. A surgeon who happened to be in the audience rushed to help, only to discover that despite the fact Lincoln was breathing, it was a mortal wound. 

    Lincoln was taken across the street. There, other doctors agreed that it was a mortal wound and that Lincoln would not recover. They focused their efforts instead on making him comfortable. Having never regained consciousness, he died the next morning on the 15th April.

    The remembrance of Lincoln lasted weeks and included him lying in state and a full procession across the country to Illinois. Lincoln was buried in Springfield, Illinois. His two already deceased sons were reinterred beside him, Mary would join them upon her 1882 death and another son Willie in 1871. Their surviving son Robert is buried at Arlington. 

    James Buchanan

    James Buchanan supported the Union side upon the breakout of the Civil War. He was aghast at how many people blamed him for it and set about clearing his name. Unfortunately, Buchanan never quite managed that. A bad cold turned into respiratory problems. He died at home on the 1st June 1868, with his last words being “oh, Lord God Almighty, as thou wilt!”

    No doubt conscious of his extremely unpopularity, Buchanan asked for a simple funeral. Over 20,000 people lined the funeral route, as he was somewhat popular in his area. He is buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

    Franklin Pierce

    Franklin Pierce’s death was a lot like his life – tragic and lonely. His three sons had died young (in 1836, 1843 and 1853), whilst his wife Jane had passed in 1863. The death of his son Bennie in 1853 was particularly tragic. The Pierce family was on its way to the inauguration when their train was derailed. Bennie was the only one killed – he’d happened to be standing up to look out of the window. As a result of this, Bennie was essentially decapitated. Pierce tried to keep the already extremely fragile Jane from seeing it, but she unluckily did.

    Towards the end of his life, Pierce began heavily drinking once again. He’d always been a heavy drinker due to the tragedies of his life, but had stopped for a period. None of his family cared for him.

    Pierce died alone on the 8th October 1869, thus his last words were unknown. He is buried with Jane and two of his sons, Frank Robert and Bennie, in Concord, New Hampshire. 

    Millard Fillmore

    Millard Fillmore was the last Whig President. In 1874, he suffered a stroke but managed to live. A second stroke would eventually kill him. His last words were said to be “the nourishment is palatable” in response to the soup he was given. Fillmore would die on the 8th March 1874.

    His resting place is the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. Both of his wives are also buried there along with both of his children. 

    Andrew Johnson

    After the end of his presidency, Andrew Johnson attempted to seek public office once again. He was unfortunate until January 1875, in which he won a Senate seat by one vote. His career would, however, only be short.

    In July 1875, Johnson was visiting his daughters when he had a stroke. Doctors arrived but a second stroke hurt him. His last words before his 31st July 1875 death were “oh, do not cry. Be good children and we shall meet in heaven.” Remarkably similar to what Andrew Jackson said, no?

    Johnson was buried at the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greenville, Tennessee (so named after his death). His beloved wife Eliza died six months later and is buried with him. Other family members would join him, including daughter Martha in 1901. 

    James A. Garfield 

    James A. Garfield was the second President to fall victim to an assassin’s bullet. On the 2nd July 1881, Garfield and his entourage were at a train station in D.C. One of the entourage was Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the slain president and nearby three presidential assassinations. Garfield entered the waiting room and was shot by Charles Guiteau, a mentally unwell office seeker who blamed Garfield for not getting a job. 

    He was hit twice, once in his back and once in his shoulder. Despite initial expectations that he would die quickly, Garfield began to recover. For nearly two months, he remained bedbound. Some days he felt fine, but most other days he was very ill. Whilst Garfield could have recovered, we know now that the medical care that he received was woefully inadequate. Surgeons poked around his insides without gloves or any other sanitation. 

    Garfield suffered in terrible agony for weeks until his death, which came on the 9th September. He woke up from a nap and began clutching his chest. Turning to his friend General David Swaim, he said ‘’Oh Swaim, there is a pain here. Swaim, can’t you stop this? Oh, oh, Swaim.” He then died. 

    Though Garfield had been very ill for a long time, his death would have no doubt come as a shock to the public, as they likely would not have been aware of the severity. 

    President Garfield’s body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda for two days before his temporary burial. Nine years later, he would be buried in his final resting place at the James A. Garfield Memorial in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland. Garfield had already been buried in that cemetery but he finally had a tomb of his own. His wife Lucretia would join him there after her 1918 passing. 

    Ulysses S. Grant

    Ulysses S. Grant’s post-presidential life was pretty tough to say the least. In 1884, a poor investment left the family bankrupt and living on charity. Later that year, Grant learned that he had cancer and was on borrowed time. Determined to assure his family’s fortunes, Grant started writing his memoirs. He managed to complete it in mid-July 1885.

    Five days later Grant died. His last words were a raspy “water,” as he’d lost most of his ability to speak. As one might imagine, there was a huge outpouring of grief for the Civil War hero. There was a thirty day mourning period and an elaborate funeral. His cortege was followed by the two living presidents, all of the Supreme Court Justices and the Cabinet. Grant was laid to rest in a temporary plot before his tomb was finished in 1897. Wife Julia passed away in 1902 and is buried with him. 

    Chester A. Arthur

    Chester A. Arthur had a very short post-presidency of about twenty months. He was frequently ill. In the autumn of 1886, his health turned even worse and it was seemingly obvious that he was dying. On the 17th November 1886, Arthur suffered from a stroke. He died the next day having never regained consciousness.

    Arthur was buried after a small funeral on the 22nd November. He is buried with his beloved wife Nell who had passed away six years earlier. 

    Rutherford B. Hayes

    Having pledged to only serve one term- like James K. Polk- Rutherford B. Hayes retired in 1881. He spent his retirement pushing for education reform and schooling for African-Americans. In 1889, his beloved wife Lucy died of a stroke. This devastated Hayes.

    Hayes suffered from a heart attack and died from complications on the 17th January 1893. His last words were “I know I am going where Lucy is.”  He was initially buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Fremont, Ohio, before he and Lucy were reinterred at Spiegel Grove. 

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