Joe Biden

Early Life

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on 20 November 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the eldest of four children of Catherine Eugenia Biden and Joseph Robinette Biden Sr. His family moved to Claymont, Delaware, in 1953, where he grew up. He attended Archmere Academy in Claymont and overcame a childhood stutter. In December 1972, weeks after his election to the Senate, his first wife Neilia and their one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident, and his sons Beau and Hunter were seriously injured; he was sworn in as a senator at the hospital where his sons were being treated. His son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

Education

Biden graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 with a degree in history and political science, and from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, worked briefly as a public defender, and then practised law in Wilmington before entering politics.

Career

Biden was elected to the New Castle County Council in 1970 and to the US Senate from Delaware in 1972 at the age of 29, becoming one of the youngest people ever elected to the Senate. He served in the Senate from 1973 to 2009, chairing the Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995 and the Foreign Relations Committee, and authored the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008, withdrawing on both occasions, and in 2008 Barack Obama selected him as his running mate. As the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017, he oversaw the implementation of the economic recovery legislation and led the administration's policy on Iraq. In 2020 he won the Democratic nomination and defeated incumbent president Donald Trump, taking office as the 46th president on 20 January 2021. His presidency included the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, and large-scale military aid to Ukraine after Russia's invasion in February 2022. After a poor debate performance in June 2024 and pressure from fellow Democrats, he withdrew from the re-election race on 21 July 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. He left office on 20 January 2025.

Achievements

Biden's central achievements span five decades in American public life: 36 years in the Senate, where he chaired the Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees and authored the Violence Against Women Act of 1994; eight years as vice president under Barack Obama, where he oversaw the implementation of the 2009 economic recovery legislation and led the administration's policy on Iraq; and a presidency from 2021 to 2025 that produced the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. His presidency also saw the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021 and the coordination of Western support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion in 2022. He was the oldest person to serve as president, taking office at 78, and the first president to serve alongside a woman vice president, Kamala Harris.

• Elected to the US Senate from Delaware in 1972 at the age of 29, and re-elected six times
• Chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee (1987-1995) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Authored the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
• Served as the 47th vice president of the United States under Barack Obama, 2009-2017
• Elected 46th president of the United States in November 2020, defeating incumbent Donald Trump by 306 to 232 electoral votes
• Signed the American Rescue Plan into law in March 2021
• Signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021
• Signed the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022
• Led the US response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, coordinating military aid and sanctions with allies
• Became the oldest person to serve as president of the United States, taking office at 78

Legacy

Biden is remembered as a career legislator who reached the presidency after nearly five decades in national politics, and as the oldest person to hold the office. Supporters credit his legislative record, including the infrastructure and climate laws of his presidency and his defence of alliances, while critics point to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, inflation during his presidency, and questions about his age and fitness that led to his withdrawal from the 2024 race. His decision to pardon his son Hunter in December 2024 also drew criticism from both parties. In May 2025, four months after leaving office, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, and he began hormone and radiation therapy. Because he is a living person whose public record continues, this profile records only documented milestones and will need regular updating from reliable sources.

Contributions

Biden's contribution was a long career in American government that culminated in the presidency: 36 years shaping legislation in the Senate, eight years as vice president, and a single presidential term that produced major infrastructure, semiconductor and climate legislation and reasserted US alliances after the first Trump administration. His career also illustrates the personal costs of public life, from the deaths of his first wife, daughter and eldest son to the health questions that ended his re-election campaign.

Notable Works

• Promises to Keep (2007)
• Promise Me, Dad (2017)
• Violence Against Women Act (1994)
• American Rescue Plan Act (2021)
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021)
• Inflation Reduction Act (2022)

Milestones

• 1942 — Born on 20 November in Scranton, Pennsylvania Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 1965 — Graduated from the University of Delaware Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 1968 — Graduated from Syracuse University College of Law Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 1972 — Elected to the US Senate from Delaware at the age of 29 Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 1972 — First wife and daughter killed in a car accident weeks after his election Source: Wikipedia
• 1987 — Became chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, serving until 1995 Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 1994 — Authored the Violence Against Women Act Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2008 — Elected vice president with Barack Obama Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2009 — Sworn in as the 47th vice president Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2015 — Son Beau Biden died of brain cancer Source: Wikipedia
• 2020 — Elected 46th president of the United States Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2021 — Inaugurated as president; signed the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2024 — Withdrew from the re-election race and endorsed Kamala Harris Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
• 2025 — Left office; diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; TimesLIVE

Timeline

1. 20 November 1942

   Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania

   Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. 1953

   Family moved to Claymont, Delaware

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Wikipedia
3. 1965

   Graduated from the University of Delaware

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
4. 1968

   Graduated from Syracuse University College of Law

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
5. 1970

   Elected to the New Castle County Council

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Wikipedia
6. 7 November 1972

   Elected to the US Senate from Delaware at the age of 29

   Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
7. 18 December 1972

   First wife Neilia and daughter Naomi killed in a car accident; sons Beau and Hunter seriously injured

   Source: Wikipedia
8. 5 January 1973

   Sworn in as a US senator at the hospital where his sons were being treated

   Source: Wikipedia
9. 1994

   Authored the Violence Against Women Act

   Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
10. 4 November 2008

    Elected vice president on the ticket with Barack Obama

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
11. 20 January 2009

    Sworn in as the 47th vice president of the United States

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
12. 30 May 2015

    Son Beau Biden died of brain cancer

    Source: Wikipedia
13. 3 November 2020

    Elected 46th president of the United States, defeating Donald Trump

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
14. 20 January 2021

    Inaugurated as president, with Kamala Harris as vice president

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
15. 30 August 2021

    Withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan completed

    Source: Wikipedia
16. 21 July 2024

    Withdrew from the re-election race and endorsed Kamala Harris

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
17. 20 January 2025

    Left office after one term as president

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
18. 2025

    Diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that had spread to his bones

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: TimesLIVE

In Their Words

“I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who doesn't see red and blue states, but a United States.” Source: Joe Biden, victory speech, Wilmington, Delaware, 7 November 2020 (American Presidency Project) — From his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, after winning the 2020 presidential election.

Related Personalities

• Barack Obama President of the United States · b. 1961
• Donald Trump President of the United States · b. 1946
• Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States · b. 1964
• Abraham Lincoln President of the United States · 1809–1865

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

1. Joe Biden — Encyclopaedia Britannica — Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 13 November 2026)
2. Joe Biden — Wikipedia (cross-check) — Wikipedia (accessed 13 November 2026)
3. Joe Biden opens up about cancer battle ahead of memoir release — TimesLIVE — TimesLIVE (accessed 13 November 2026)
4. File:Joe Biden presidential portrait.jpg — Wikimedia Commons (portrait file page) — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 13 November 2026)

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