- Twelve presidents owned slaves during their lifetimes. Eight of those presidents owned slaves while in office.
- Jefferson owned the most slaves at over 600 while also opposing the institution of slavery.
Rank | # | President | Number of Slaves | While In Office |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Thomas Jefferson | 600+ | Yes |
2 | 1 | George Washington | 317 | Yes |
3 | 7 | Andrew Jackson | <200 | Yes |
4 | 12 | Zachary Taylor | <150 | Yes |
5 | 4 | James Madison | 100+ | Yes |
6 | 5 | James Monroe | 75 | Yes |
7 | 10 | John Tyler | 70 | Yes |
8 | 11 | James K. Polk | 25 | Yes |
9 | 9 | William Henry Harrison | 11 | No |
10 | 17 | Andrew Johnson | 8 | No |
11 | 8 | Martin Van Buren | 1 | No |
11 | 18 | Ulysses S. Grant | 1 | No |
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