Answer · confidence: thin

Which rich names do Freemason websites mention most, and are they in old papers?

Research question: Which famous rich names do Freemason-themed websites list most often, and do any of those names appear in older newspapers or lodge histories?

The facts do not show which famous rich names Freemason-themed websites list most often, because the one document on that subject, about the Statue of Liberty, says nothing about such websites ⁸. The facts do name several Freemasons: the list identifies 15 well-known Freemasons among the 45 U.S. presidents ², and Washington was initiated into a Fredericksburg lodge in 1752 and later elected Worshipful Master in 1788 ⁵. The facts do not establish whether any of these names appear in older newspapers or lodge histories, and the newspaper material concerns Pulitzer's criticism of the wealthy over statue funding, not Freemason membership ¹⁰. The newest dated item is a 2014 publication on women and Freemasonry ⁴, and the facts give no date for the lists, so their recency relative to October 2026 cannot be judged.

Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.

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Sources

[1] supported

The list identifies Heinrich Lachmann (1797–1872) as a Freemason, along with being an educator, physician and biologist.

"Heinrich Lachmann (1797–1872), Pädagoge, Arzt, Biologe und Freimaurer"

Liste von Söhnen und Töchtern der Stadt Braunschweig

[2] supported

The list identifies 15 well-known Freemasons among the 45 people who have served as U.S. president, counting Lyndon Johnson, who held only the first degree.

"Von diesen sind 15 bekannte Freimaurer [ 1 ] , Lyndon Johnson eingeschlossen, der nur den 1. Grad hat."

Liste der Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten, die Freimaurer waren

[3] supported

Fifteen US presidents were Freemasons, including George Washington.

"15 der bisherigen US-Präsidenten waren Freimaurer, darunter auch George Washington ."

Freimaurerei

[4] supported

The prominent women in the Parisian salons that popularized the Lodges of Adoption were mostly upper-class, if not aristocratic.

"The majority of the prominent figures in these circles were upper-class, if not members of the aristocracy."

Women and Freemasonry in France and Germany (2014)

[5] supported

George Washington was initiated into a Masonic lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 4 November 1752, and was later elected Worshipful Master on 20 December 1788.

"Initiiert am 4. November 1752, in Fericksburgh Loge Nr. 4, Fericksburg, Virginia . Gewählter Meister vom Stuhl am 20. Dezember 1788."

Liste der Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten, die Freimaurer waren

[6] supported

Former Hessian Minister-President Holger Börner (1931–2006) publicly acknowledged being a Freemason.

"Auch der frühere hessische Ministerpräsident Holger Börner (1931–2006) bekannte sich öffentlich zur Freimaurerei."

Freimaurerei

[7] supported

Ronald Reagan was an honorary Freemason, and Bill Clinton was a member of the Masonic youth organization DeMolay as a teenager but never became a Freemason.

"Darüber hinaus war Ronald Reagan ein Freimaurer ehrenhalber [ 8 ] und Bill Clinton war als Jugendlicher in der freimaurerischen Jugendorganisation DeMolay International (Order von DeMolay) [ 9 ] , wurde aber nie ein Freimaurer."

Liste der Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten, die Freimaurer waren

[8] supported

The document does not say anything about Freemason-themed websites or which famous rich names they list; it covers the Statue of Liberty's history, including newspaper fundraising.

"Le journaliste Joseph Pulitzer , « précurseur » [ 6 ] d'une « presse d'investigation engagée » socialement [ 6 ] , accepta de mobiliser les premières pages de son quotidien New York World pour récolter plus d'argent, gagnant ainsi environ 50 000 nouveaux abonnés."

Statue de la Liberté

[9] supported

The base of the statue was funded by an American fundraising campaign led by the attorney general William M. Evarts.

"est le résultat d'une collecte de fonds américaine dirigée par le procureur général , William M. Evarts"

Statue de la Liberté

[10] supported

Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize the wealthy classes for failing to find the necessary funds, and the middle classes for relying on the rich.

"Le journal fut également utilisé par son créateur pour critiquer les classes aisées, étant donné leur incapacité à trouver les fonds nécessaires"

Statue de la Liberté