How Many U.S. Presidents Have Died on the 4th of July?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 03, 2020

Three U.S. presidents have died on Independence Day, July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. These were the second, third and fifth presidents, respectively.

Both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, with Jefferson passing away as a result of a kidney infection a few hours before Adams died of heart failure. Monroe died on July 4, 1831, from tuberculosis. This means that the majority of the first five presidents of the United States all died on July 4 in separate incidents. Though Jefferson died before Adams, Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” News of his friend and fellow president’s death and had not yet been reported.