Martin Van Buren Facts - 8th President of USA

This article is about Martin Van Buren Facts. Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York on December 5, 1782.

Martin Van Buren Family

Martin Van Buren Facts - His father was a farmer and owner of a few slaves. His mother, Maria Hoes Van Alen Van Buren had Dutch ancestry and was left a widow with three children. She reportedly never got over his death.
Van Buren had two half brothers and a half-sister through his mother's first marriage and four full-blooded siblings from his parent's marriage.

Martin was actually the first president of the United States to be born as a citizen since all prior presidents had been born prior to the American Revolution.

Martin Van Buren Education

Van Buren's education was basic at a dreary little schoolhouse. He later studied a little Latin at the Kinderhook Academy. He was very good at speaking and writing.

Before he reached the age of 14, his formal education was over, and he began to study law with a Federalist attorney named Francis Sylvester. He became a member of the bar in 1803.

Martin Van Buren Marriage

Van Buren was married to Hannah Hoes, who was a distant relative of his as well as his childhood sweetheart. Their marriage took place in Catskill, New York.

The couple had four sons: Abraham Van Buren, John van Buren, Martin Van Buren, and Smith Thompson Van Buren. His wife died after they had been married for 10 years after she got tuberculosis. Martin Van Buren never got remarried.

Martin Van Buren US President

Prior to becoming U.S. President, Van Buren was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State. His ancestry was Dutch, which made him the first president whose ancestry was not British. He is also the first U.S. president to not have spoken English as his first language. He served only one term as president. He helped build the organizational structure of the Jacksonian democracy.

While president, the country was suffering from economic hardship, including the Panic of 1837.  The relationship between the United States and Britain were strained during his presidency, and he was voted out following his four years as president. He is only one out of two presidents who served as Vice President, President, and Secretary of State.

During the fall of 1861, Martin Van Buren was bedridden from pneumonia, and he died of bronchial asthma and heart failure on July 24, 1862, at the age of 79.

More Martin Van Buren Facts

NICKNAMES - The Little Magician and Old Kinderhook (OK)

BIRTH - December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, N.Y.

MOTHER - Maria Hoes Van Alen

FATHER - Abraham Van Buren

SISTERS - Derrike and Hannah

BROTHERS - Lawrence and Abraham

MARRIAGE - Hannah Hoes February 21, 1807, in Kinderbrook, N.Y.

CHILDREN - Abraham, John, Martin and Smith Thompson

HOME - Lindenwald, Kinderhook N.Y.

EDUCATION
Village schools
Studied law

RELIGION - Dutch Reformed

PRE-PRESIDENCY PROFESSION - Lawyer and politician

MILITARY SERVICE - None

POLITICAL LIFE

1. Columbia County Attorney (1808-1813)
2. New York state senator (1812-1828)
3. US Senator (1821-1828)
4. Governor of New York (1829, January to March)
5. Secretary of State (1829-1831)US President one term

POLITICAL PARTY - Democrat

INAUGURATION

1. March 4, 1837, at the age of 54
2. Martin Van Buren - Inaugural Address

Martin Van Buren Administration

PRESIDENCY

1. One term (March 4, 1837-March 4, 1841)
2. The first American President born a citizen of the United States

VICE PRESIDENT - Richard M. Johnson (1837-1841))

FIRST LADY - Hannah Van Buren

SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS

1. John McKinley (1837)
2. Peter V. Daniel (1841)

Martin Van Buren Cabinet

SECRETARY OF STATE - John Forsythe (1837-1841)

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY - Levi Woodbury (1837-1841)

SECRETARY OF WAR - Joel R. Poinsett (1837-1841)

ATTORNEY GENERAL

1. Benjamin Butler (1837-1838)
2. Felix Grundy (1838-1839)
3. Henry D. Gilpin (1840-1841)

POSTMASTER GENERAL

1. Amos Kendall (1837-1840)
2. John M. Niles (1840-1841)

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

1. Mahlon Dickerson (1837-1838)
2. James K. Pauling (1838-1841)

POST PRESIDENCY LIFE - Politician

DEATH - July 24, 1862 in Kinderhook, N.Y. at the age of 79

BURIAL PLACE - Kinderhook Cemetery, Kinderhook, N.Y.

LANDMARKS - Lindenwald, Kinderhook, N.Y. (Homestead)Kinderhook Cemetery, Kinderhook, N.Y.