Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson (1767-1837) - Born 15 Mar 1767 near the unmarked border between North Carolina and South Carolina. Served in the War of 1812, the First Seminole War, as military governor of Florida, as the first United States Representative from Tennessee, as U.S. Senator from Tennessee and two terms as President of the United States from 4 Mar 1829 to 4 Mar 1837. Died 8 Jun 1845 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Early Years

Jackson was born on 15 Mar 1767. His parents were Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Hutchinson, emigrants from Ireland who brought two children with them. Jackson's father died in Feb 1767, three weeks before Andrew was born. The actual birth site is unknown but is assumed to be somewhere along the unmarked border between North Carolina and South Carolina.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

At age 13 during the Revolutionary War Jackson became a courier for the local militia. Andrew and his brother Robert were captured by the British and Andrew was subjected to abuse from a British officer when he refused to polish the officer's boots. The brothers were released but Robert soon died and his mother died during a cholera outbreak in 1781. Andrew became an orphan at age 14.

Andrew had a limited education and worked while studying law in Salisbury, North Carolina. In 1787, he was admitted to the bar and moved to Jonesborough, Tennessee.

In 1796 Jackson was elected as the first U.S. Representative from the new State of Tennessee and the next year he was elected as a U.S. Senator but he resigned after only one year in office. From 1798 to 1804 he served as a judge on the Tennessee Supreme Court and in 1801 he was appointed Colonel of the Tennessee militia and in 1802 he was elected Major General of the militia.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

At the beginning of the War of 1812 the "Red Stick" creek Indians rose up and attempted to drive settlers from their lands. At Fort Mims some 400 troops, settlers and slaves were massacred by the Red Sticks. Jackson assemble a force of militia, U.S. regular troops and friendly Indians. He defeated the Red Sticks at the battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 killing some 800 Red Sticks but sparing their leader William Weatherford.

Fort Mims Massacre

Jackson was promoted to Major General and made the military commander of the Seventh Military District. He became convinced that the only solution to the Hostile Indian problem was removal. Jackson forced the tribes, both hostile and allies to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson, ceding their lands and the removal began.

At the end of the War of 1812 the British advanced toward New Orleans, threatening to take the city. Jackson took command of the defenses of the city, assembled a force to repel the British and prepared defenses outside the city. His masterful preparations and disposition of his forces resulted in a crushing defeat for the British in the Battle of New Orleans on 8 Jan 1815. The british suffered 2,037 casualties, 291 killed including three senior generals. The Americans had only 71 total casualties with only 13 killed. This was the last battle of the war.

Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans

First Seminole War (1817-1818)

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Father: Andrew Jackson (1738-1767)

Mother: Elizabeth Hutchinson (17??-1781)

Marriage:

• Rachel Donelson (1787-1828) married (1791-1794, 1794-1828), born 15 Jun 1767.

Children:

• None
• Adopted
  • Andrew Jackson Jr.
  • Lyncoya Jackson
  • Theodore Jackson
• Guardians for
  • John Samuel Donelson
  • Daniel Smith Donelson
  • Andrew Jackson Donelson
  • Andrew Jackson Hutchings
  • Carolina Butler
  • Eliza Butler
  • Edward Butler
  • Anthony Butler

Sources:

• Wikipedia - Andrew Jackson
• White House - Andrew Jackson