Ambrose Joseph Finnegan

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is the 46th president of the United States, serving from 2021 to 2025. His family background is predominantly of British Isles descent, with ancestors from Ireland, England, and France. Of his sixteen great-great-grandparents, ten were born in Ireland, specifically from County Mayo and County Louth. One great-great-great-grandfather was born in Sussex, England, and emigrated to Maryland by 1820.

Biden's immediate family includes his wives and children, with notable family members involved in law, education, activism, and politics.

**First Marriage and Family:**

Biden married Neilia Hunter on August 27, 1966. The couple lived in Wilmington, Delaware, where Biden served on the New Castle County Council. They had three children: Joseph "Beau" Biden III, Robert Hunter Biden, and Naomi Christina "Amy" Biden. Neilia was recognized as a key supporter of Biden's 1972 campaign for the U.S. Senate.

On December 18, 1972, while Neilia was driving with Naomi, and the two sons, the vehicle was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer. Neilia and Naomi died at the scene; their sons, Beau and Hunter, sustained serious injuries but survived. Biden was sworn into the Senate on January 3, 1973, at Wilmington General Hospital, where his sons were receiving treatment.

**Second Marriage:**

Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden, born on June 3, 1951, became Biden’s second wife. The couple met on a blind date in March 1975 and married on June 17, 1977, at the United Nations Chapel in New York City. Jill Biden has been an educator and holds the title of Second Lady during Biden’s vice presidency, and First Lady during his presidency.

**Children:**

Joe Biden has four children from his two marriages.

- **Naomi Christina Biden:** Born November 8, 1971; died in the 1972 car accident.

- **Joseph "Beau" R. Biden III:** Born February 3, 1969, in Wilmington, Delaware. After surviving the 1972 crash with injuries, he graduated from Archmere Academy and the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He then earned a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, clerked for Judge Steven McAuliffe, and worked at the U.S. Department of Justice. He married Hallie Olivere in 2002. Beau was elected Delaware Attorney General in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. He was active in his father's 2008 vice-presidential campaign. In 2010, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, undergoing treatments, and died on May 30, 2015, at age 46.

- **Robert Hunter Biden:** Born February 4, 1970. He was also injured in the 1972 accident. Hunter graduated from Georgetown University in 1992 with a degree in history. He worked at MBNA America, rising to executive vice president by 1998. He married Kathleen Buhle in 1993, divorced in 2017, and later married Melissa Cohen in 2019. During the 2020 election, Hunter’s connections with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian company, attracted scrutiny. In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges, which included nine counts, related to income from 2016 to 2019. He faced potential sentencing but was pardoned unconditionally by President Biden on December 1, 2024, covering offenses from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.

- **Naomi "Amy" Biden:** Born November 8, 1971; died in the 1972 car crash.

- **Ashley Blazer Biden:** Born June 8, 1981, in Wilmington, Delaware, she is Joe Biden's only child from his second marriage. She attended Wilmington Friends School and has been involved in social activism and public service.

Biden’s family history reflects a lineage with roots mainly in Ireland, with notable ancestors from County Mayo and County Louth, as well as a smaller French heritage component. Throughout his political career, members of his family have held various public service roles, and personal tragedies have significantly impacted his family life.