BROWSE: 1789-1850 | 1850-1889 | 1889-1953 | 1953-present

President Zachary Taylor, 1849-1850 (bio)

Old Whitey, a wartime mount

Apollo, a former circus pony



President James K. Polk, 1845-1849 (bio)

It is said President Polk learned to ride before he could walk and had a great love of horses, but no White House pets were noted during his administration.



President John Tyler, 1841-1845 (bio)

The General, a horse

A pair of wolfhounds that President Tyler imported for his wife, Julia

Le Beau, an Italian greyhound

Johnny Ty, a canary that died shortly after they tried to pair him with a mate only to discover it, too, was a male

When The General died, Tyler had a grave dug on his estate, Sherwood. Over the grave, he had a headstone placed with the following inscription: “Here lies the body of my good horse ‘The General.’ For twenty years he bore me around the circuit of my practice, and in all that time he never made a blunder. Would that his master could say the same! John Tyler.”



President William Henry Harrison, 1841 (bio)

Billy goat

Sukey, a Durham cow



President Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841 (bio)

A pair of tiger cubs given to him by the Sultan of Oman that Congress made him send to the zoo



President Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837 (bio)

Sam Patch, horse

Emily, Lady Nashville and Bolivia, racing fillies

Thruxton, a champion racehorse

Ponies

Poll, a parrot that was taught to swear



President John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829 (bio)

Alligator given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette. The gator actually lived in a White House bathroom, leaving some guests terrified.

Silkworms belonging to Mrs. Louisa Adams



President James Monroe, 1817-1825 (bio)

Spaniel belonging to Maria Monroe



President James Madison, 1809-1817 (bio)

Green parrot belonging to Dolley Madison



President Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809 (bio)

Dick, a mockingbird

Two bear cubs



President John Adams, 1797-1801 (bio)

Juno and Satan, Abigail Adams’ two mixed-breed dogs

Cleopatra and Caesar, carriage horses

Several other horses



President George Washington, 1789-1797 (bio)

Samson, Steady, Leonidas, Traveller, Magnolia and other stallions

Nelson and Blueskin, horses used during the American Revolution

A horse given to Washington by Gen. Braddock

Drunkard, Mopsey, Taster, Cloe, Tipsy, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweet Lips, and Searcher, all hounds

Five French hounds

Rozinante, Nellie Custis’s horse

A parrot belonging to Mrs. Martha Washington