White House Pets (1789-1850) - Presidential Pet Museum

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