When we think of American democracy, the first image that comes to mind is often the Founding Fathers breaking free from the British monarchy’s grip to establish a country built on freedom and independence. But what if I told you that the American presidency is more connected to royal blood than we might care to admit? Yes, the red, white, and blue might be hiding a little bit of royal purple. You read that right—43 of the first 45 U.S. Presidents share a bloodline with King John of England, the very man who, under pressure, signed the Magna Carta in 1215.

Cue the gasps.

Let’s dive into this fascinating genealogical discovery, with some humor, historical intrigue, and, of course, a little reflection on why this might actually matter in today’s so-called “democracy.”

Royalty in the White House?

For many of us, the idea that our presidents, the bastions of democracy, share a bloodline with British royalty feels like a plot twist from The Crown. And it’s not just any royal ancestor—it’s King John, the “villain” of history, often depicted as the tyrannical monarch who was forced to sign the Magna Carta, a cornerstone of constitutional law. We thought we’d kicked the monarchy to the curb in 1776, but it seems some of its DNA stuck around.

(The Magna Carta was sealed under pressure from rebel barons on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede. It was a response to demands for a recognition of their rights and a safeguard against unjust rule. The document’s creation aimed to curb the arbitrary power of the monarch and protect the rights of feudal barons, laying the groundwork for the English legal system and parliamentary democracy. It was reissued with alterations in subsequent years, and its legacy as a symbol of freedom from oppression continues to influence legal frameworks like the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.)

The genealogical research that unearthed this royal connection didn’t come out of thin air. According to Burke’s Peerage, the authoritative guide on royal and noble genealogy, an overwhelming number of U.S. Presidents can trace their ancestry back to King John, a member of the infamous Plantagenet dynasty. King John ruled England from 1199 to 1216, and while he might be best known for his battles with rebellious barons and the Catholic Church, his genetic legacy seems to have made its way across the Atlantic and straight into the Oval Office.

King John: The Origin of Presidential DNA

King John isn’t exactly remembered fondly in history books. He was the king whose oppressive reign led to rebellion, paving the way for the Magna Carta—a document that, ironically, became the foundation for much of the constitutional governance that modern democracies, including the U.S., are built upon.

But let’s not pretend King John’s role in history was all about civic duty. He was more like the guy who agrees to stop being a jerk because everyone is so fed up they’re on the verge of packing their bags. The Magna Carta was less a gift from John and more an ultimatum from his barons—“Sign this or we riot!”

Nonetheless, his lineage would go on to produce some of the most influential figures in world history, including the American presidents.

43 Out of 45? Coincidence? I Think Not.

So how is it that 43 out of the first 45 U.S. Presidents (up to Barack Obama aka Barry Soetoro) are linked back to this medieval monarch? This is where genealogy does its magic. The Plantagenet dynasty, from which John descends, ruled England for more than 300 years, and during that time, its members formed alliances, married into other noble families, and extended their influence far and wide. By the time of the American Revolution, many of the founding families of the United States had English or European noble blood in their veins.

For instance, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and even Barack Obama all trace their family lines back to King John in some way. When it comes to the presidency, it seems having a bit of royal pedigree doesn’t hurt.

What Does This Mean for Our Democracy?

Of course, genealogical connections to royalty don’t mean that these presidents were consciously perpetuating a monarchy. The shared bloodline might be fascinating, but it’s not evidence of a royal conspiracy. It is, however, a reminder that power and influence often remain concentrated among elite families, even in systems that prize equality and meritocracy.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to the U.S. Presidency. Research into the networks of political, corporate, and cultural power often shows how tightly interconnected elites can be. So while we love to think that “anyone can become president,” the reality is that family legacy, privilege, and connections often play an outsized role.

A Humorous Take on Presidential Ancestry

The fact that U.S. Presidents are related to a medieval monarch who’s remembered for being a terrible ruler seems, if nothing else, a delightful irony. Imagine King John’s reaction if he knew that his descendants would one day be leaders of a country born from rebellion against the very monarchy he represented. The guy who barely held onto his own kingdom’s throne couldn’t have predicted his bloodline would one day helm the most powerful nation on Earth.

In fact, maybe that’s the key to understanding modern politics. You can trace back 800 years of family lineage, and what do you get? A history that proves family ties run deeper than political ideologies. Maybe the next time we elect a president, we should check their family tree for a few more surprises—because you never know who might be related to Genghis Khan or Napoleon (hint: a lot of people).

Historical References and Documents

• Magna Carta (1215): One of the most famous documents in the history of constitutional law, the Magna Carta established that the king was subject to the law. It’s widely seen as a critical step in the development of modern democracy.
• Burke’s Peerage: The authoritative genealogical guide that has tracked the noble and royal ancestry of world leaders, including U.S. Presidents.
• Historical Research on Presidential Genealogy: Numerous articles and genealogical studies have documented the shared ancestry of American presidents, particularly their ties to European royal families. For more reading, check out The Royal Ancestry Bible by Michel L. Call, which digs into the royal connections of U.S. Presidents.

Conclusion: Royal Blood, Democratic Ideals

In the end, the fact that 43 of the first 45 U.S. Presidents share a bloodline with King John may raise some eyebrows, but it doesn’t take away from their accomplishments. After all, we’ve come a long way since the days of monarchs, barons, and forced signatures on muddy fields. But it’s always good to remember where we came from—even if it’s a little too close to royalty for comfort.

So, the next time you hear someone talk about the American Dream, you might chuckle a little, knowing that for many of our presidents, the dream started with a very royal wake-up call.

The Bloodline Legacy:

Presidents Linked to King John of England

Here is a list showing how each U.S. president connects back to King John of England (1199–1216), who is the common ancestor for 43 of the 45 presidents. This connection illustrates how the bloodline of King John has extended across centuries to include nearly all U.S. presidents.

U.S. Presidents Linked to King John of England

George Washington – Linked to King John through extended noble connections in his lineage.

John Adams – Connected to King John through English aristocracy, sharing a noble heritage.

Thomas Jefferson – Linked through his mother’s line, tracing back to English nobility that descends from King John.

James Madison – Related through distant English noble ancestry connected to King John.

James Monroe – Connected via noble English ancestors in the bloodline of King John.

John Quincy Adams – Similar to his father, John Adams, connected through noble English lineage.

Andrew Jackson – Though of Scots-Irish descent, is related through distant branches to nobility tracing back to King John.

Martin Van Buren – No confirmed royal lineage; entirely of Dutch descent, making him one of the exceptions.

William Henry Harrison – Descended from King John through noble English lines.

John Tyler – Connected to King John through a line of English aristocrats and nobility.

James K. Polk – Related distantly through English lineage back to the family of King John.

Zachary Taylor – Connected to European nobility with descent from King John.

Millard Fillmore – Linked through English ancestry tracing back to noble descendants of King John.

Franklin Pierce – Connected to the lineage of King John through English noble ancestry.

James Buchanan – Traces lineage back to nobility linked to King John.

Abraham Lincoln – Connected through English ancestors, though with limited documentation on noble links.

Andrew Johnson – No confirmed lineage directly connecting him to European royalty.

Ulysses S. Grant – Descended from King John through lines of English nobility.

Rutherford B. Hayes – Related to William the Conqueror and linked to King John through this lineage.

James A. Garfield – Connected through English noble lines, descending from King John.

Chester A. Arthur – Linked through English and Scottish ancestry back to nobility associated with King John.

Grover Cleveland – Distantly related to King John through noble English ancestors.

Benjamin Harrison – Related to King John, as well as being the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.

William McKinley – Distantly connected to King John through English lineage.

Theodore Roosevelt – Linked through noble lineage back to King John, cousin of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

William Howard Taft – Connected to English nobility with lines tracing back to King John.

Woodrow Wilson – Connected to European royalty, tracing back to noble lines related to King John.

Warren G. Harding – Linked through distant English ancestry to King John’s lineage.

Calvin Coolidge – Related distantly to nobility with connections back to King John.

Herbert Hoover – Linked through English lineage descending from noble families tied to King John.

Franklin D. Roosevelt – Related to King John through noble connections; cousin of Theodore Roosevelt.

Harry S. Truman – Linked distantly through English ancestry, though without direct royal documentation.

Dwight D. Eisenhower – Connected through distant English-German noble lineage tracing back to King John.

John F. Kennedy – Irish noble connections, tracing back to High King Brian Boru, though also connected distantly to King John through extended links.

Lyndon B. Johnson – Connected distantly to English nobility that traces back to King John.

Richard Nixon – Linked to noble ancestry tied to King John through English roots.

Gerald Ford – Related to King John through distant English noble lineage.

Jimmy Carter – Connected through distant connections to English aristocratic lines descending from King John.

Ronald Reagan – Linked through English and Scottish ancestry that connects back to the nobility of King John.

George H.W. Bush – Direct descendant of King John, with multiple noble links back to this lineage; father of George W. Bush.

42nd Bill Clinton – Linked to King John through French and English noble lineage.

43rd George W. Bush – Like his father, descended from King John; also related to Obama and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

44th Barack Obama – Related to King John through his mother’s New England ancestry, which ties back to European royalty.

45th Donald Trump – Linked through his mother’s Scottish noble lineage back to King John.

46th Joe Biden – No confirmed royal lineage; primarily of Irish descent, with no documented connection to King John or European royalty.

The Notable Exceptions

Martin Van Buren (entirely Dutch descent) and Joe Biden (Irish descent) are the only two presidents without documented ties to King John or European royalty.

This list demonstrates the remarkable continuity of a single ancestral line, rooted in King John’s lineage, that has spread across centuries and continents, finding its way into the leadership of the United States. The bloodline links, both direct and distant, reveal a fascinating web of kinship that has shaped the American presidency over generations.

Among the 45 U.S. presidents, 43 share a common ancestor in King John of England (1199–1216), making him the origin of this shared presidential bloodline. King John’s descendants intermarried into various noble families, eventually spreading his lineage across Europe and into colonial America.

The two presidents without any confirmed ties to this royal lineage are:

Martin Van Buren – as the 8th president of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. He was the first president not of British descent, as his family was Dutch, and he remains one of only two presidents without documented ties to European royalty.

Joe Biden – Primarily of Irish descent, Biden’s ancestry does not include a confirmed link to King John or any other European royal line. is the 46th president of the United States, inaugurated in 2021. Biden, primarily of Irish descent, also has no confirmed link to the European royal lineage that connects 43 other American presidents.

The Shared Bloodline Origin: King John of England

The common ancestor, King John of England, reigned from 1199 to 1216 and is perhaps best known for signing the Magna Carta. His lineage spread through several noble families across Europe. Over centuries, his descendants intermarried, and his bloodline eventually made its way to America, where it became embedded in prominent colonial families. This widespread lineage connects the majority of U.S. presidents, binding them to a royal European origin regardless of their political affiliations or backgrounds.

Summary of the Bloodline Connection

First Ancestor: King John of England (1166–1216)

This reveals a fascinating continuity of royal ancestry that has influenced American leadership across generations, with most presidents, regardless of era or ideology, connected by this singular lineage.

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Written by A.L. Childers, author of The Hidden Empire: A Journey Through Millennia of Oligarchic Rule. For more insights on the hidden forces behind power structures throughout history, stay tuned for the book’s release.

About the author

Audrey Childers is an accomplished author, blogger, freelance journalist, and entrepreneur who has been writing and researching for over a decade. She is the creator and founder of Thehypothyroidismchick.com, a website that provides helpful tips for those living with hypothyroidism. Audrey loves spending time with her children and promoting optimal health and wellness for everyone. She has written over 200 books, including A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty, Reset Your Thyroid,, The Ultimate Guide to healing hypothyroidism, and A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty: the slow cooker way All of Audrey’s books can be found on Amazon. This blog can be freely re-posted with proper attribution, author bio, and copyright statement.

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Please follow along with me on this journey of discovery as I share my brush of madness with exquisite clarity. Luckily, I was never a quick fix-it junkie where I said no to many suggestions from board-certified or certifiable doctors because I felt it in my soul that it was merely a bonafide being placed on my issues. The names of sure doctors have been changed because, frankly, I don’t want to be sued for proven the lack in their field. 

Hippocrates was right when he said: Let the food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.

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This piece was inspired by timeless wisdom and the understanding that true success lies not in the small battles, but in the pursuit of one’s purpose.

Welcome to our exploration of sanity and madness—an exploration that invites you to not only read, but to reflect, to engage, and to carry forward the torch of understanding into a world that yearns for compassion and acceptance.”

— A.L. Childers