page_title: List of people with kidney stones
section_title: Politicians and military commanders
hierarchical_section_title: List of people with kidney stones / Politicians and military commanders
caption_attribution_description: James Knox Polk (11th president of the United States)
context_page_description: There are a number of documented cases of historical figures and distinguished members of society who had kidney stones. This condition is caused by nephrolithiasis, which are more commonly known as kidney stones, or urolithiasis, where the stone forms in the urinary system. These are crystal deposits that can accrete in the urinary system when certain chemical substances become concentrated in the urine. Among the symptoms associated with nephrolithiasis are intense colicky pain, nausea, fever, chills, and the reduction or blockage of urine flow. Historically, the condition of having a kidney or bladder stone was referred to as "the stone" or "the gravel".
  In certain cases, kidney stone formation played a pivotal role in history. Most notably, some members of the royalty and military leaders became debilitated at important moments, such as Napoleon III of France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and Athenian commander Nicias in the disastrous Sicilian Expedition of 415-413 BC.
context_section_description: In the disastrous Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BC), the Athenian commander Nicias was afflicted with kidney stones during the entire period he was in charge.
  The English military and political leader Oliver Cromwell may have suffered from kidney stones during the 1650s. His doctor said that, "being much troubled with the stone, he used sometimes to swill down several sorts of liquor, and then stir his body by some violent motion ... that by such agitation he might disburden his bladder."
  In 1659, Myles Standish, who served as military officer of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony, became "sick of the stone" and died after suffering much "dolorous pain".
  Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, suffered from the stone, as did his brother Horace Walpole and his mother Catherine.
  John Hart, a member of the Continental Congress representing New Jersey and signer of the Declaration of Independence, died of kidney stones in 1779 after much suffering.
  British General James Wolfe suffered from "the gravel" prior to the Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War.
  The eleventh President of the United States, James K. Polk, suffered from kidney stones during his youth. At the age of seventeen he underwent a successful lithotomy without anaesthetic for removal of a urinary stone. Thereafter he was sufficiently well to be able to receive a formal education.
  Colonel Edward M. House was the foreign policy advisor to President Woodrow Wilson until removed from that post in 1919. In that year he suffered through a painful kidney stone, and he had recurrences in 1928 and 1930.
  In 1959, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi began to suffering from severe pain in the stomach and back. She was diagnosed with a kidney stone and underwent successful surgery in February 1960 to have it removed.
  Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia, suffered from recurrent kidney stones. He was twice forced to seek medical treatment in Vienna; the second time for removal of a kidney stone.
  U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson suffered from kidney stones at various times in his life. He was reluctant to seek treatment because of the effect it may have on his political image.
  The perjury trial of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Michael Deaver was twice delayed because he was suffering from kidney stones.
  Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić underwent surgery in Belgrade for a kidney stone in 1995, during the final year of the Serbian conflict with Bosnia. He was later indicted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal for genocide and other crimes.
  Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, has had a number of kidney stones, necessitating kidney stone removal surgery. Senator John McCain has had four small kidney stones and he took the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide to prevent their formation. Other congress members who have experienced kidney stones include Representatives Tom Price and Mike Simpson, and Senator Ted Kennedy.
  Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove under U.S. President George W. Bush was hospitalized in September 2005 due to kidney stones.
  Former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Prescott was hospitalized on Christmas Day, 2006 for a kidney stone.
  Senior CIA lawyer John Rizzo had a number of kidney stone attacks, beginning in 1968.
  Other political figures who have had a kidney stone include U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and British Labour politician Peter Mandelson.
caption: The dangerous and painful surgery used to remove a stone through James K. Polk's perineum may have left him unable to conceive a child.[65]
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