I know that Andrew Jackson is commonly cited as the only one ever to have killed someone else in a duel, but which other Presidents have killed other people intentionally, under any circumstance (such as in war, etc.)? And I mean personally killed, not ordered the death of. Also, although the phrasing of the title was not meant to be exclusive of women, have any Presidents actually killed a woman? It seems less likely, since most of the killings would have been in war (and mainly non-total wars).
“So what is it like, killing a man?”—Esmeralda Villalobos, Pulp Fiction.
(The following is from Wikipedia)
The most well-known incident of his term [as sheriff of Erie County] involved the execution of a murderer, Patrick Morrisey, on September 6, 1872. Cleveland, as sheriff, was responsible for either personally carrying out the execution, or paying a deputy $10 to perform the task. Cleveland had qualms about the hanging, but opted to carry out the duty himself. He hanged another murderer, John Gaffney, on February 14, 1873.
Two names spring straight to mind: George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant. I’m sure both of these stalwart soldiers killed many enemies in the course of their military careers.
Yes, see the Cecil article linked above, indeed he appears to be the earliest President we know for certain killed someone.
Truman, Kennedy, Bush and Ford all saw combat during their military service, but so far as some googling was able to uncover, I couldn’t find any mention of them specifically killing someone.
Unles you are a sniper or a fighter pilot, generally you don’t keep track of “kills”. My Dad saw a lot of combat in WWII, but would never say he out and out killed a man.
Franklin Pierce got rip roaring drunk and trampled an old lady to death while riding his horse. He was charged but the case was soon dropped for lack of evidence.
That we know of…
Bush 41, as stated, flew a number of attack missions, and shared credit for sinking a small cargo ship, so he likely killed enemy solders or sailors, but no definite confirmation.
Most other presidents with wartime military service who actually saw combat have tended to be officers in command of units, and therefore less likely to have personally “pulled the trigger” on anyone (orders to kill having been ruled out by the OP).
Ford commanded a shipboard AA battery (USS Monterey)
Nixon was a supply officer
Johnson flew as an observer on combat missions, but doesn’t seem to have dropped any bombs.
Kennedy, as a PT boat commander, famously saw action, but probably never personally fired a weapon.
Truman commanded an artillery battery in WWI
Teddy Roosevelt was decorated for leading a charge at San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War, but its unclear whether he had any occasion to have fired a weapon while doing so.
President McKinley, saw combat as an enlisted man in the Civil War, and likely at least fired at the enemy. President Hayes, who commanded McKinley, was wounded four times, but may or may not have directly attacked anyone himself.
Presidents Taylor and William Henry Harrison both fought against the Indian tribes of the “Northwest” (what we consider the Midwest today) early in their careers. So both might have had occasion to kill an enemy personally, though I’ve seen no specific references.
Jackson, as noted previously, would just as soon kill ya as look at ya.
President Monroe was wounded fighting under Washington’s command at the Battle of Trenton. I’d consider him another “possible killer”.
TR said he was certain he’d shot the man, which seems definitive enough for me. If we’re going to start needing multiple witnesses, the list is just going to get even shorter.
