SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY: SAMUEL D. INGHAM, Pennsylvania. 1829. 1831. WILLIAM J. DUANE, Pennsylvania. 1833. 1833. LEVI WOODBURY, New Hampshire. 1834. SECRETARIES OF WAR: JOHN H. EATON, Tennessee. LEWIS CASS, Ohio. 1829. 1831. SECRETARIES OF THE NAVY: POST MASTERS-GENERAL: ANDREW JACKSON. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, was of Scottish descent. His grandfather, Hugh Jackson, removed to Ireland, where his sons became respectable farmers. In 1765, his youngest son emigrated to North America, and settled in South Carolina, where he purchased a plantation at Waxhaw Settlement. On this plantation, Andrew Jackson was born on the 15th of March, 1767. His father died about the time of his birth, leaving his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Hutchinson, a widow with three sons. In the spring of 1779, South Carolina was invaded by the English, and his brother, Hugh Jackson, who had enlisted with others to repel them, lost his life in the fatigues of the service. At the age of thirteen, Andrew, with his brother 136 ANDREW JACKSON. Robert, joined a company of volunteers and were engaged in a battle at a place called Hanging Rock, where the volunteers particularly distinguished themselves. Both of the yonng men were soon after taken prisoners, and as such, upon one occasion Andrew was ordered by a British officer to clean his boots, which he indignantly refused to do, whereupon, he was struck by the officer with his sword, causing a deep wound, the scar of which he carried with him to his grave. His brother Robert, for refusing to perform like menial service, was treated in the same manner, and received a wound from which he never recovered. They were both finally exchanged, and Robert died two days after his arrival home. His mother going on board of a prison ship to nurse some sick, captive friends, took a fever from which she died soon after, leaving Andrew, then a young man, the sole survivor of the family. When eighteen years of age, he commenced the study of law at Salisbury, North Carolina, and in due time was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law in that State, but being appointed by the Governor, Solicitor for the Western District, which embraced Tennessee, he removed to Jonesborough in 1788, being then only twenty-one years of age. In this new and half-civilized region, he endured hardships and encountered dangers of every kind. His sensitive nature, strong passions, iron will, with his fearless and determined spirit, led him into many difficulties and personal quarrels, all of which he met manfully, ever ready to fight an enemy, or chastise an offender. His motto was, "Ask nothing but what is right; submit to nothing wrong.' On the admission of Tennessee into the Union, Jackson was chosen the first Representative to Congress, and took his seat in the House, on the 5th of December, 1796. His term there however, was short, for being elected by the Legislature, he took his seat in the Senate of the United States, on the 22nd of November, 1797. In his views he was a democrat, and acted with the Democratic party. After resigning his seat as a Senator, he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, which office he held for six years and then resigned. In 1802, he was appointed Major General of the militia of the State. During the war of 1812, he took an active part in the campaigns against the Indians and British, in the capacity of Major General, and on the 23rd of December, 1814, obtained a great victory over them at New Orleans, aud was hailed by the people of the South-West as their deliverer. In 1828, he was nominated for the Presidency, by the Democratic party, the opposing candidate being John Quincy Adams. It was a most exciting campaign, but Jackson was elected, and again re-elected in 1832. His first inauguration took place on the 4th of March, 1829; his second, on the 4th of March, 1833. During his administration, many grave and important questions were agitated, which caused great excitement throughout fhe country; among these were those relating to the Tariff, U. S. Bank, Public Lands, nullification, Internal Improvement, etc., etc. On the 3rd of March, 1837, he publishedhis farewell address full of patriotism, good advice, and love of country. He then retired to the Hermitage in Tennessee, where he passed the remainder of his days, breathing his last on the 8th of June, 1845. |