Every US President's Handwriting

Jacob Bryant
Updated July 3, 2024 44 items
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11.3K votes
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Vote up the most impressive John Hancocks of commanders in chief.

You can tell a lot about a person based on their signature, which is nearly as unique as a fingerprint. According to handwriting analysts, how people cross their Ts, slant their names, and space the letters in their signatures can reveal details about their personalities.

Some of the most-viewed signatures throughout history belong to United States presidents. Presidential signatures show a variety of handwriting techniques: quick, nearly illegible scribbles; long, swooping flourishes; and neatly ordered, compact strokes.

But how do they compare to each other? Which president had the best penmanship? Who had the worst? How does George Washington's handwriting compare to Donald Trump's? And how many presidents have worse penmanship than you?


    • Age: Dec. at 49 (1831-1881)
    • Birthplace: Moreland Hills, Ohio, United States of America
    307 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?
    • Age: Dec. at 78 (1767-1845)
    • Birthplace: Waxhaw Settlement between North Carolina and South Carolina, British America
    303 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?
    • Age: Dec. at 65 (1784-1850)
    • Birthplace: Barboursville, Virginia, United States of America
    271 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?
    • Age: Dec. at 64 (1804-1869)
    • Birthplace: Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States of America
    263 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?
    • Age: Dec. at 66 (1808-1875)
    • Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
    209 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?
    • Age: Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)
    • Birthplace: Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, British America
    273 votes
    Is this presidential penmanship?