Slave Owners

  • 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#PresidentNumber of SlavesWhile In Office
13Thomas Jefferson600+Yes
21George Washington317Yes
37Andrew Jackson<200Yes
412Zachary Taylor<150Yes
54James Madison100+Yes
65James Monroe75Yes
710John Tyler70Yes
811James K. Polk25Yes
99William Henry Harrison11No
1017Andrew Johnson8No
118Martin Van Buren1No
1118Ulysses S. Grant1No

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