Ulysses S. Grant  President from: March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877Age at inauguration: 46Political Party: RepublicanWhat I read:Grant by Ron ChernowAge at death: 63Cause of Death: Throat Cancer (he constantly smoked cigars)Health & Appearance: He had blue eyes and brown hair and stood 5’8”.  Grant was one of our healthiest presidents.  His health problems were all self-inflicted.  He smoked cigars almost continuously.  This habit certainly lead to his death from throat cancer.  He was probably an alcoholic. Though  his bouts of drinking have been disputed and while he was with his wife, he never drank.  He, like many in his day and today, dealt with depression through alcohol.  Pre-Presidency: Grant started life working for his ...

Andrew JohnsonPresident from: Apr. 15, 1865–Mar. 3, 1869Age at inauguration: 56Political Party: Union Party (The only Union Party President)What I read:Andrew Johnson by Annette Gordon-ReedAge at death: 66Cause of Death: StrokeHealth & Appearance: Johnson stood 5’10” with brown eyes and dark brown hair.  He purportedly had a larger than normal head and chest.  He had typhoid fever as an adult and took longer than normal to recover.  He had the reputation of a drunkard due to an incident during the second inauguration of Lincoln, but by all accounts, was not an alcoholic. He suffered from kidney stones several times while president.  This painful condition is said to have had ramifications on his decision making.Pre-Presidency: Born in a ...

Abraham LincolnPresident from: Mar. 4, 1861 - April 15, 1865Age at inauguration: 52Political Party: RepublicanWhat I read:Lincoln by David Herbert DonaldAge at death: 56Cause of Death: Assassination by gunHealth & Appearance: ‘Ol Abe is still our tallest president at 6’4” with grey eyes and black hair. Much is written about Lincoln’s health and a lot of it is unfounded rumor. The truth even sounds made up. He almost cut off a finger with an axe. His feet were frost bitten. He was saved from drowning by a friend at a young age. He got a concussion from being kicked in the head by a horse. In 1828, he was clubbed in the head by thieves while ...

James BuchananPresident from: Mar. 4, 1857–Mar. 3, 1861Age at inauguration: 65Political Party: DemocratWhat I read:James Bucannon by Jean BakerAge at death: 77Cause of Death: respiratory failureHealth & Appearance: James Buchanan stood 6’0” with blue eyes and blond hair.  He had an eye defect which caused him to tilt his head forward and sideways when conversing. He also had an eye lid twitch. He drank, heavily, up to 3 bottles of cognac or whiskey a night. Numerous reports tell of him showing no ill effects from the massive amount of alcohol consumption as those around him fell by the wayside trying to keep up. Not surprisingly he suffered from gout.He suffered from dysentery twice within months--shortly before ...

Franklin PiercePresident from: Mar 4, 1853–Mar. 3, 1857Age at inauguration: 48Political Party: DemocraticWhat I read:Franklin Pierce by Michael F. HoltAge at death: 64Cause of Death: Pierce died from the effects of lifelong heavy drinking and depression. He fell into a coma after many years of failing health and died a few days later.Health & Appearance: Pierce stood 5’10” with grey eyes and dark brown hair. Pierce had good health as a youth and was quite strong for his size.  He had a great memory which helped him in politics and as a lawyer. Pierce had whooping cough and “bilious fever” in his 20’s.  In his early 30’s, he had pleurisy for which 26 ounces of blood ...

Millard FillmorePresident from: July 10, 1850- March 3, 1853Age at inauguration: 50Political party: Whig, Know Nothing aka American PartyWhat I read:Millard Fillmore by Paul FinkelmanAge at death: 74Cause of Death: StrokeHealth & Appearance: Fillmore stood 5’9” tall with blue eyes and sandy blond hair. He was one of our healthiest presidents. Millard did not smoke or drink. He suffered a stroke a month before he died, and then a second, fatal stroke.Pre-Presidency: Millard Fillmore was born into poverty,  the oldest son of eight children. His father, a tenant farmer, sold him into the garment trade as an “apprentice” (indentured servant) when Fillmore was 12 years old. He was forced ...

Zachary TaylorPresident from: Mar. 5, 1849–July 9, 1850Age at inauguration: 64Political Party: WhigWhat I read:Zachery Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest by K. Jack BauerAge at death: 65Cause of Death: Was he poisoned? Some think so, but the proof is inconclusive. Tyler most likely died from cholera, dysentery, or spoiled food. He spent a long, hot day in D.C. at 4th of July celebrations, eating possibly contaminated food. He felt ill by the evening and he died five days later.Health & Appearance: Taylor stood 5’8” tall and had hazel eyes and brown hair. His early life showed no major illnesses but once he joined the army, he contracted yellow fever, dysentery, and ...

James K. PolkPresident from: Mar. 4, 1845–Mar. 3, 1849Age at inauguration: 49Political Party: DemocraticWhat I read:A Country of Vast Design by Robert W. MerryAge at death: 53Cause of Death: CholeraHealth & Appearance: Polk stood 5’8” tall and had grey eyes and brown hair.  He was a sickly child who suffered from gallstones several times.  He had a relatively healthy adult life. When he left office he was exhausted due to the rigorous work schedule he kept as president. He was by far the most involved in the daily running of the government than any president before him.Pre-Presidency: Polk served in the Tennessee house for a term, and then went to the U.S. House of Representatives, winning reelection ...

John TylerPresident from: April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845Age at inauguration: 51Political Party: WhigWhat I read:John Tyler: The Accidental President by Edward P. CrapolAge at death: 71Cause of Death: StrokeHealth & Appearance: Tyler stood 6’ 0” tall and had blue eyes with brown hair.  His pointed features matched his shark-like disposition. A nervous condition gave him epileptic fits. Like several presidents, he suffered from sore hands from all the hand shaking. Pre-Presidency: Tyler was the last president born in Virginia for the 1800’s. Virginia dominated presidential politics before Tyler, having the most presidents born and bred in that state. He had 8 children, the most of any president. Tyler was a lawyer and started his career ...

William Henry HarrisonPresident from: Mar. 4, 1841–Apr. 4, 1841Age at inauguration: 68Political Party: WhigWhat I read:Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer by Robert M. OwensCounterpoint Tecumseh vs William Henry Harrison by James A. Huston Age at death: 68Cause of Death: Pneumonia, which is blamed on his delivery of a two-hour inauguration speech on a cold, rainy day without a coat or hat. He died 30 days later.Health & Appearance: He stood 5’8” tall with brown eyes and brown hair. Harrison was our country's first president who didn't drink alcohol. It was believed he had an ulcer or other stomach ailment, as he only ate a small group of foods, mostly cheese and milk products. Pre-Presidency:  Though he spent most of his ...