How many United States generals became U.S. presidents?

Of America's 44 presidents, 12 have been former generals. Being a general is second only to being a lawyer in terms of the most common occupation of those who become president.

Of the 12 generals who became president, 8 were of the Republican persuasion. They were: William H. Harrison (Whig), Zachary Taylor (Whig), Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Regarding Democrats, only three generals were elected to the presidency. They were: Andrew Jackson, Franklin Pierce and Andrew Johnson. The only general to become president without being a member of a particular party was George Washington. He transcended political parties.

Of all the generals to become president, only three — George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower — were professional soldiers who spent their entire lives in the military before becoming president.

Overall, of the 44 men who have been president of U.S., all but 13 have had some sort of military service.