Andrew Jackson

John Wilcox

US history Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767 in Waxhaws, South Carolina. He was born before the United States was a nation. He was born to immigrant parents. Jackson was the only first generation American to become president. President Jackson was one of six Presidents born in a log cabin. Historian can't agree if he was born in North or South Carolina. Andrew Jackson was a Presbyterian. At the age of 13, he joined the Army to fight in the Revolutionary War. President Jackson was the only president who served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Tragity struck the Jackson household just before he was to leave for Washington, DC to be sworn in as President. Shortly after 9:00 PM on Monday, December 22, 1828 Jackson's wife Rachel died. She had been sick for only five days. She died of a heart attack. He was a lawyer by trade.

At one time he owned slaves, President Jackson was one of three presidents to have adopted children. Andrew Jackson was involved in many duels. In 1806, in a duel against Charles Dickinson over some unflattering remarks made about Jackson's wife, Jackson was wounded. He then fired, killing Dickinson. The bullet that wounded Jackson was lodged near his heart and could not be safely removed. He carried that bullet in his chest for the rest of his life. For a number of years he carried two bullets in his body. In 1828, Jackson made one of the first campaign tours. He traveled to New Oreleans to campaign for president. When John Quincy Adams lost to Andrew Jackson in the election of 1828, the town of Adams, New Hampshire, changed its name to Jackson. The town had been named in 1800 to honor the election of John Adams.

Interesting Facts

Andrew Jackson advisors were known as the "Kitchen Cabinet." He raised 11 children, none of them his own. Andrew had a pet parrot named Poll. The parrot screamed curse words at his funeral. Andrew Jackson was the first president to ride on a...