Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. He was a member of the Republican Party and was in office during the onset of the Great Depression, a severe economic downturn that affected millions of Americans. Before his presidency, Hoover was a successful mining engineer and humanitarian, known for his work in providing relief during and after World War I. Born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa, Hoover was the first president born in the American West. He graduated from Stanford University and later became a wealthy businessman. Despite his earlier successes, his presidency is often associated with the struggles of the Great Depression, leading to a decline in his popularity.