The 39th president of the United States. Photo: Guy DeLort/Penske Media/Getty Images There have been 14 official state funerals in Washington for presidents and ex-presidents since the first, for William Henry Harrison, was held in 1841. Until the 1930 funeral of former president (and sitting chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court) William Howard Taft , this particular honor was reserved for presidents who died in office. The upcoming January 9 memorial in Washington for the 39th president,