Founding Fathers Fluent in French!
Some of the most important and influential Founding Fathers of the United States of America were fluent in French!
- John Adams – First Vice-President of the U.S. (serving under President George Washington); 2nd U.S. President; father of John Quincy Adams
- Thomas Jefferson – 3rd U.S. President; contributing writer of the Declaration of Independence
- Benjamin Franklin – famous inventor; drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States
These three men—whose lives and works were so crucial to the founding of our country—read, wrote, and spoke la langue française.
Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father (but never a U.S. President) John Adams, Founding Father, statesman and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father, U.S. President
Other U.S. Presidents Also Fluent in French
And several U.S. Presidents (who were not Founding Fathers) were also fluent in French, including:
- James Monroe – 5th President; known for the Monroe Doctrine (1823)
- John Quincy Adams (the son of President John Adams) became the 6th President of the United States
- Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt – 26th President; established the 1st Volunteer Cavalry in the U.S., known as the “Rough Riders.” The “teddy bear” was named after him (1902).
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) – 32nd President; presided over the country during the Great Depression and World War II
James Monroe, U.S. President President John Quincy Adams as a young man President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (aka “FDR”)
President Theodore Roosevelt A replica of the original Teddy Bear.
National Archives, Washington, D.C.
