Andrew Jackson was born on the 15th of March, 1767, at the Waxhaw
settlement, in South Carolina. His parents, who were natives of the
north of Ireland, emigrated to this country about two years previous
to the birth of their son. Having lost his father at an early age, he
was left to the care of a faithful and devoted mother, who was anxious
to give him such an education as her limited means would permit. For
this purpose she placed him at an academy, where he remained until his
studies were interrupted by the advance of the British troops into the
neighborhood, involving his native spot in a scene of commotion. At the
age of fourteen he abandoned his studies for the colonial camp; where,
in company with an elder brother, he joined the American army. The
troops to which they were attached withdrew to North Carolina, but soon
returned again to their own state. Before long they had the misfortune
of being made prisoners by the enemy, who treated them with great
barbarity, and inflicted injuries upon them from which the brother soon
after died.
Andrew only escaped with his life, by receiving on his hand the stroke
of the sword which was aimed with fury at his head, by an excited
British officer, for refusing to perform some menial service.
His mother survived the death of her son but a few weeks, thus leaving
Andrew sole heir to the small estate possessed by his late parents.
In 1784, he commenced the study of law in Salisbury, North Carolina;
was admitted to practice in 1786, and removed in 1788 to Nashville,
Tennessee, then a new settlement in the western district of North
Carolina. This district having been ceded to the United States, and
organized into a territory in 1790, he was appointed to the office
of United States attorney; and when the territory, in its turn in
1796, became the state of Tennessee, he was a leading member of the
convention to frame a constitution for it, and took a conspicuous part
in the proceedings of that body. Professional success attended him,
in consequence of the singular condition of the settlers, and being
the only practitioner, introduced him to a lucrative business. He
was soon after chosen a representative, and the next year a senator
in Congress; his seat in the senate he resigned at the end of the
first session; but was immediately appointed, by the legislature of
Tennessee, a judge of the supreme court of that state, an office from
which he also soon retired. At his farm on the Cumberland river, near
Nashville, he continued to reside till the breaking out of the war with
Great Britain in 1812. From this time until 1814, Andrew Jackson was
employed by government at the head of between two and three thousand
volunteers, as a major-general, against a hostile movement of the Creek
and Muscogee Indians, who had invaded the frontier settlements of
Alabama and Georgia, and inflicted on the inhabitants the usual horrors
of savage warfare. After a succession of bloody victories achieved
by him over these tribes, a treaty was concluded, and they agreed to
suspend their warfare. In 1814 he was appointed a major-general in the
United States service; and proceeded to take the command of the forces
intended for the defence of New Orleans, against the apprehended attack
of the enemy. On arriving there on the 1st of December, he took decided
measures, acting with the greatest promptness. Fearing the treachery
of some disaffected individuals, he at once proclaimed martial law,
superseding at once the civil authority by the introduction of a rigid
military police. Towards the enemy he acted with the most determined
energy. The British troops had no sooner effected a landing, than he
marched against them, and by assailing them in the night of the 22d of
December, gained great advantages, not only by proving to his followers
what their ability was able to perform, but also to communicate to the
invaders what they had to encounter.
This protracted contest was brought to a close by the memorable
battle of the 8th of January, 1815, which raised the reputation of
the American commander to the highest pitch among his countrymen, and
served as a satisfactory apology, with many, for the strong measures
adopted by him before the landing of the enemy, and immediately on his
retreat. Congress voted to General Jackson the thanks of that body and
a gold medal. (_See_ Plate VII.)
In 1818 General Jackson conducted a war against the Seminole Indians,
and with a force of Georgia militia and volunteers from Tennessee, he
penetrated into Florida to the villages of the savages and fugitive
slaves who had joined them, setting fire to their habitations and
scattering devastation in all directions. In 1821, he was appointed
governor of Florida, that territory having been transferred by Spain to
the United States, but resigned the office at the end of one year and
returned to his farm near Nashville.
In 1822 the legislature of Tennessee nominated General Jackson as the
successor of Mr. Monroe, in the presidency of the United States; the
proposition was favorably received in many parts of the Union, but by
the provisions of the constitution the election devolved on the House
of Representatives, in Congress, voting by states, and Mr. Adams was
selected to be the president. General Jackson was at once nominated to
succeed Mr. Adams, and was elected president in 1828, and again in 1832
he was re-elected to that high office.
At the end of his second term, General Jackson retired to his farm
called the “Hermitage,” near Nashville, where he remained until his
death, which took place on the 8th of June, 1845, in the 78th year of
his age. Though enfeebled in body he retained his mental faculties
undiminished until the day of his death.