Polly

Polly was Andrew Jackson's parrot — a bird who learned to curse so creatively that she had to be removed from the president's funeral for swearing too much.

Andrew Jackson was a rough, tough, and famously foul-mouthed president. He was known for his temper and his colorful language. So it's no surprise that his pet parrot, Polly, picked up a few of the president's favorite words.

Polly was an African grey parrot — one of the smartest bird species in the world. She lived in the White House during Jackson's two terms (1829–1837) and became a familiar sight around the mansion. She was known for her sharp wit and her even sharper vocabulary.

The most famous story about Polly comes from Jackson's funeral in 1845. Polly was brought to the service, where she sat silently through the ceremony. But when the service ended and the room fell quiet, Polly decided to speak up. According to witnesses, the parrot let loose a string of curses that made the mourners blush. The bird had learned to swear from Jackson himself.

Polly had to be removed from the funeral. The story has become one of the most legendary tales in presidential pet history — a bird so talented at swearing that she couldn't be trusted at the president's own funeral.