Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was born on the border of North and South Carolina in 1767.  Though a young boy during the Revolution, he acted as a courier and witnessed the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill as a British prisoner of war. While in captivity Jackson suffered greatly, nearly starving, contracting smallpox, and being slashed by a British officer for refusing to clean his boots. His older brother died of heatstroke at the Battle of Stono Ferry, his younger brother after his release from British activity from smallpox in British and his mother died of cholera after nursing American prisoners in Charleston Harbor. By age 14, Jackson was an orphan, with a thorough hatred for the British. After the Revolution, he began a legal and political career in Tennessee, serving in the House once Tennessee became a state. He returned to military service as a Major General Tennessee Militia during the Creek War, part of the War of 1812, commanding at the Battles of Talladega, Emuckfaw (Enotachopo Creek), and Horseshoe Bend, accepting the Creek surrender in August of 1814. Following this, he assumed command of New Orleans with the rank of General. At the Battle of New Orleans in January of 1815, he soundly defeated the British. After the War of 1812, Jackson served in the First Seminole War, invading Spanish Florida and forcing a peace treaty. Because of his national recognition and military record, he was nominated for the Presidency in 1822 and elected Senator again in 1824. Jackson won the hotly contested election of 1828, defeating John Quincy Adams, to become the 7th President of the United States, serving two terms until 1837. After his Presidency, Jackson returned to his plantation, Hermitage, dying in 1845.