Oldest US Presidents in History

According to the Constitution of the United States, one has to be at least 35 years old to be elected to the presidency among other requirements. However, the country has never been led by a president aged below 40 years. Only 10 out of the 45 presidents were below the age of 50 at the start of their presidency. 11 presidents assumed the presidency when they were at least 60 years old. Here are the oldest presidents in the history of the US

Oldest Presidents in US History

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the US on January 20, 2017, about 165 days shy of his 71st birthday, become the oldest president to be sworn in as the US president. Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in New York and was brought up in Jamaica Estates in the City. Before venturing into politics, he was a television personality and a billionaire businessperson with interest in real estate. If President Trump is re-elected in the 2020 presidential election, he will have a chance of dethroning Ronald Reagan as the oldest serving president.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan held the honors of being the oldest person to be elected as president for almost four decades before the election of Donald Trump. However, he remains the oldest president at retirement, completing his second term at the age of 77 years. Born in February 1911, Reagan took the oath of office just 16 days to his 70th birthday. Before entering into politics, Reagan was an entertainer and actor who appeared in over 50 films and is known for his role as Notre Dame star in the Knute Rockne, All American.

William Henry Harrison

William Harrison was inaugurated as the 9th president of the US on March 4, 1841, at the age of 68 years, making it the 3rd oldest person to assume the presidency. Harrison was born in February 1773 in Virginia. His father, Benjamin Harrison was a member of the Continental Congress and took part in the signing of the Declaration for Independence. Before joining politics, Harrison served in the army. He is remembered as the first president to die in office. He is also the shortest-serving president, having been in the office for only 31 days.

James Buchanan

James Buchanan became the 15th president of the US at the age of 65 years and served for a single term. He was born in 1791 in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania which he later represented in the House as a Federalist. He later served as an envoy to Russia under President Jackson. Buchanan served as the president of the US before the Civil War. His presidency is largely considered a failure since he could not stop the southern states from seceding.

Other oldest presidents in the history of the US include George H W Bush (64 years 222 days), Zachary Taylor (64 years, 100 days), Dwight D Eisenhower (62 years), Andrew Jackson (61 years, 354 days), John Adams (61 years, 125 days), and Gerald Ford (61 years 26 days).

The Youngest President

Who the youngest president in the history of the US is still confusing for many. The youngest person to assume the presidency was Theodore Roosevelt, who was sworn in as president at the age of 42 years after the assassination of William McKinley. However, the youngest person to be elected president was John F Kennedy at only 42 years.