He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1812 and served until 1820. Martin Van Buren Bates’ life began traditionally enough. He was 79 years old, and the cause of death was ascribed to chest ailments. Martin Van Buren. In the election the following year, Van Buren defeated three candidates fielded by the splintered Whig Party, collecting 170 electoral votes to his opponents’ 124. He was 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) tall and weighed 475 lb (215 kg). Martin Van Buren Unlike the seven men who preceded him in the White House, Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) was the first president to be born a citizen of … (William Van Ness was a witness to the infamous Hamilton-Burr duel.). ThoughtCo. … Van Buren, who regarded himself as a disciple of Thomas Jefferson, was a member of the Jeffersonian faction of the Republican Party. Use precise geolocation data. He was a Patriot during the American Revolution, and served as a captain in the Albany County Militia's 7th Regiment. Near the end of his life, on the eve of the Civil War, Van Buren publicly expressed his support for Abraham Lincoln, whom he had met years earlier on a trip to Illinois. The work he did for Andrew Jackson in organizing the Democratic Party in the 1820s created a template which has endured to the present day. In his retirement, he worked as a farmer. Van Buren's political base was rooted in New York State, in the "The Albany Regency," a prototypical political machine which dominated the state for decades. Corrections? With Jackson’s endorsement, Van Buren was unanimously nominated for president in May 1835. Andrew Jackson’s secretary of state. Martin Van Buren was a political genius from New York, sometimes called "The Little Magician," whose greatest accomplishment may have been building the coalition that made Andrew Jackson president. Select basic ads. As the descendant of Dutch immigrants, he was also the first president whose ethnic background wasn't mostly from the British Isles. He supported the doctrine of states’ rights, opposed a strong federal government, and disapproved of federally sponsored internal improvements. He was raised speaking Dutch and learned English at school, making him the first and still only U.S. president to speak English as his second language. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Van Buren was the only American president who did not speak English as his first language. Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York. Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York to parents of Dutch heritage. Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, was defeated by the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison. Select personalised ads. He was apparently of unremarkable size at birth. While still in his teens, Van Buren was exposed to the highest levels of politics in New York City. The youthful Van Buren was also acquainted with Hamilton's enemy (and eventual killer) Aaron Burr. Van Buren developed a reputation as a gifted politician, and his skill was apparent when he created the Albany Regency, an informal political organization in New York state that was a prototype of the modern political machine. Harrison, depicted as a locomotive, bears down on Van Buren. Van Buren's non-British ancestry (his parents were Dutch) would break one presidential mold, and his modest upbringing was preceded only by that of Andrew Jackson. In 1842 Van Buren had traveled to Illinois and was introduced to a young man with political ambitions, Abraham Lincoln. After moving to Hudson, New York, Van Buren served as the Surrogate of Columbia County from 1808 to 1813. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Growing up in a Dutch enclave in New York State, Van Buren's family spoke Dutch and Van Buren learned English as his second language when he was a child. Van Buren went to a local school for several years as a child, but left at about the age of 12. Omissions? Two years later, Martin Van Buren was born in the rural town of Kinderhook, New York. Van Buren's greatest political accomplishment occurred a decade before his presidency: He organized the Democratic Party in the mid-1820s, before the election of 1828 brought Andrew Jackson to power. His father Abraham Van Buren (1737–1817) owned and operated an inn and tavern. It became a powerful force in state politics and helped ensure Van Buren’s election to the U.S. Senate in 1821. At the age of 24, Martin Van Buren married the … Pictures and Trivia About the Presidents of the United States, Last Time Consecutive Democratic Presidents Were Elected, James K. Polk: Significant Facts and Brief Biography, The Federalist Party: America's First Political Party, The Most Important Inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Van Buren himself witnessed and experienced slavery at an early age in his own house and community. "The Little Magician," which referred both to his height and great political skills, was a common nickname for Van Buren. Van Buren died at his home in Kinderhook, New York, and his funeral was held in a local cemetery. Van Buren received no electoral votes, though the votes he received (especially in New York) may have swayed the election. Military observances, including the ceremonial firing of cannon, occurred in Washington. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/martin-van-buren-significant-facts-1773435. The political skills honed in the cauldron of Albany politics gave Van Buren a natural advantage when forging a national alliance between northern working people and southern planters. He tried to return to the White House at least twice, and he remains a fascinating and influential character in American politics. Martin, whose childhood nickname was “Little Mat,” began his education at the village school and later attended the Kinderhook Academy. He faced criticism from Congress and the public, and he lost to the Whig candidate William Henry Harrison when he ran for a second term in the election of 1840. McNamara, Robert. In many ways the organizational structure Van Buren brought to national party politics set the template for the American political system we know today. Updates? As a child he would listen to political news and gossip relayed in the small tavern his father operated in the village of Kinderhook. In 1807 he married his cousin Hannah Hoes (Hannah Van Buren), with whom he had four children; Hannah died in 1819, and Van Buren never remarried. Birthplace: Kinderhook, NY Location of death: Kinderhook, NY Cause of death: Asthma complicati. Martin Van Buren Bates, known as the "Kentucky Giant" among other nicknames, was a Civil War-era American famed for his incredibly large size. After John Quincy Adams was elected president in 1824, Van Buren brought together a diverse coalition of Jeffersonian Republicans, including followers of Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and John C. Calhoun, to found a new political party, which was soon named the Democratic Party. Perhaps it just seemed natural that Martin Van Buren would have been a flamboyant user of armorial bearings. The Van Buren candidacy kept votes from going to Democratic candidate Lewis Cass, thus ensuring victory for Whig candidate Zachary Taylor. his wife born march 8, 1783. died at albany n. y. feb. 5, 1819. new york gravesite martin van buren 1782-1862 govenor of new york eighth president of the united states state education department In 1839, after a series of armed clashes between Americans and Canadians in disputed territory along the Maine–New Brunswick border (the Aroostook War), Van Buren dispatched Gen. Winfield Scott to restore order, and a permanent settlement was negotiated in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842. Van Buren was elected president in 1836, following the two terms of Andrew Jackson. As Van Buren was generally considered to be a successor picked by Jackson, it was expected at the time that he would also be an influential president. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Van Buren grew up fascinated by politics. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. After his difficult term as president, Van Buren ran for reelection in the election of 1840, losing to William Henry Harrison. It was later said that Van Buren learned much through his connections with Burr. Martin Van Buren - Eighth President of the United States, 10 Little Known Facts About Martin Van Buren, What Was the US Second Party System? His father was a simple farmer and tavern owner. Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York, south of Albany. Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was the eighth President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. In 1796 he was apprenticed to the lawyer Francis Silvester, and at age 15 he participated in his first court case, which he won. He was Amazon.com's first-ever history editor and has bylines in New York, the Chicago Tribune, and other national outlets. In reality, Van Buren's term in office was marked by difficulty, frustration, and failure. Political career: Senate and vice presidency, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Van-Buren, The White House - Biography of Martin Van Buren, U.S. Department of State - Office of the Historian - Biography of Martin Van Buren, Spartacus Educational - Biography of Martin Van Buren, USA 4 Kids - Biography of Martin Van Buren, Martin Van Buren - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Martin Van Buren - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), presidency of the United States of America. His father, Abraham Van Buren, was a farmer and a tavern owner. During his tenure he was also appointed state attorney general, holding that post from 1815 to 1819. In 1828 Van Buren resigned his Senate seat and successfully ran for governor of New York. History and Significance, John Tyler: Significant Facts and Brief Biography. His father, Abraham, owned a successful inn and small farm. Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York, to a family of patroon Dutch Americans; his father was a Patriot during the American Revolution. As a New Yorker, Van Buren might have seemed like an unusual ally for Tennessee's Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the political champion of the common man. Though born an infant of normal size into a family of normal-sized people in Letcher County, Kentucky, he is said to at one time have been 7 … "Martin Van Buren: Significant Facts and Brief Biography." Perceived as Jackson's political heir, Van Buren took the blame. Martin went on to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1803. In later years, efforts to link Van Buren to Burr became outrageous. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! Almost immediately he faced a national financial panic brought about in part by the transfer of federal funds from the Bank of the United States to state banks during Jackson’s second term. Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York. Martin Van Buren Bates (November 9, 1837 – January 19, 1919), known as the "Kentucky Giant" was an American man famed for his great height. Martin Van Buren, (born December 5, 1782, Kinderhook, New York, U.S.—died July 24, 1862, Kinderhook), eighth president of the United States (1837–41) and one of the founders of the Democratic Party. In pre-Civil War America, however, it was impossible not to have an opinion of him. Kinderhook is currently a small town of about 1300 people and is located about 20 miles south of Albany, New York in Columbia County. Robert J. McNamara is a history expert and former magazine journalist. Martin Van Buren: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York on December 5, 1782. Martin Van Buren was the 8th President of the United States, he is buried in Kinderhook, NY. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Born in Kinderhook, N.Y., Van Buren carried the nickname "Old Kinderhook." Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A political cartoon from the 1840 presidential campaign, in which Pres. They easily defeated the National Republican ticket of Henry Clay and John Sergeant. Upon school letting out on June 16th, 2008, we decided to travel to Kinderhook, NY, and visit Martin Van Buren's grave. His impeccable appearance belied his amiability–and his humble background. Create a personalised ads profile. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/martin-van-buren-significant-facts-1773435. After failing to be re-elected as president … Create a personalised content profile. And he had a number of other nicknames, including "Matty Van" and "Ol' Kinderhook," which some say led to the word "okay" entering the English language. 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