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10 Intriguing Facts About Martin Van Buren

Over the course of American history, there have been many presidents. Some have become household names, while others have faded into obscurity.

However, even the most overlooked presidents have made significant contributions to the nation. One such figure, deserving of our attention and admiration, is Martin Van Buren.

Born on December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York, he may not be a household name like Washington or Lincoln, but his presidency from 1837 to 1841 marks a pivotal chapter in American history.

Van Buren was a shrewd and skillful politician, instrumental in shaping the early days of the American political system and laying the groundwork for future presidents.

This article will scrutinize Martin van Buren鈥檚 life and career and highlight ten of the most intriguing facts about this American legend and leader.

1. He Was The 8^th President of The USA

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Martin Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. He was elected under the Democratic Party ticket, with Richard Mentor Johnson as his vice president.

His candidacy was boosted by his close association with President Andrew Jackson whom he had served as vice president from 1833 to 1837. However, Van Buren’s presidency was soon overshadowed by the Panic of 1837, a severe economic depression.

Van Buren’s response to the Panic was to support the Independent Treasury Act of 1840, which established an independent treasury system to manage the federal government’s finances.

Presidents before Martin Van Buren:

1. George Washington (1789-1797)
2. John Adams (1797-1801)
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
4. James Madison (1809-1817)
5. James Monroe (1817-1825)
6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

2. Van Buren Was the First American-born President

A rather intriguing fact about Martin Van Buren is that he was the first American-born president of the United States. This means that he was the first president to be born after the American Revolution when the United States gained its independence from Great Britain.

Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook, New York. The USA had gained independence on 4^th July 1776.

His parents were Abraham Van Buren and Maria Hoes van Buren. Abraham Van Buren was a tavernkeeper and farmer, and Maria Hoes van Buren was the daughter of a Dutch immigrant.

Van Buren’s birth in 1782 made him a member of the first generation of Americans to be born after the American Revolution.

3. Martin Van Buren Is the Only President of The USA (So Far) Who Used English as His Second Language

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 As mentioned earlier, Van Buren was born and raised in Kinderhook, New York. This was a town where most residents were of Dutch descent and spoke Dutch as their primary language.

Van Buren’s parents, Abraham and Maria Van Buren were both of Dutch descent. As a result, Van Buren learned Dutch first and English second.

Of the 46 presidents of the United States, at least half have displayed proficiency in speaking or writing a language other than English. However, only one, Martin Van Buren, learned English as his second language.

4. He Never Remarried After Losing His Wife to Tuberculosis

Martin van Buren’s wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren, was born in Kinderhook, New York, on March 8, 1783. Van Buren and Hannah met in 1801 when he was studying law in Kinderhook. They fell in love and were married on February 21, 1807.

The couple had four sons: Abraham (1807-1873), John (1809-1866), Martin Jr. (1812-1855), and Smith (1817-1876), Winfield Scott who died shortly after birth in 1814, as well as a stillborn daughter in 1809.

In 1819, her eldest son, Abraham, died of tuberculosis. Hannah herself was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and she died on February 5, 1819.

Van Buren never remarried following his wife鈥檚 death. After he was elected president, the Whitehouse lacked an official hostess.

It was not until 1838, when his eldest son (Abraham) married Angelica Singleton that she began performing the role of hostess of the White House and First Lady of the United States for the remainder of Van Buren鈥檚 presidency.

5. Martin Van Buren Opposed the Annexation of Texas

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Andrew Jackson, Van Buren’s predecessor, favored the annexation of Texas. He saw it as a way to expand the United States and strengthen the Democratic Party.

Jackson also believed that annexing Texas would prevent it from falling into the hands of a foreign power, such as Great Britain or France.

However, Van Buren opposed the annexation of Texas. He had several reasons for his opposition. First, he was concerned that annexing Texas would lead to war with Mexico, which controlled the territory until 1836.

Van Buren was also against annexing Texas as it was a slave state. After the election, Van Buren blocked the annexation in 1837, in part because of the slavery issue but also to avoid further tensions with Mexico.

Texas was eventually annexed into the United States in 1845. At the time, Texas was a lone country, having declared its independence from Mexico in 1836.

6. His Autobiography Doesn鈥檛 Mention His Wife Or Presidency

Martin Van Buren’s autobiography, which was published posthumously (after his death in 1862) in 1867, is a remarkable document for many reasons. It is one of the earliest autobiographies written by an American president, and it provides a unique glimpse into Van Buren’s thoughts and feelings about his life and career.

 It covered his life and career up to 1834. However, the autobiography is also notable for what it does not contain: any mention of Van Buren’s wife, Hannah Hoes van Buren, or of his presidency.

This was despite the first published edition being 776 pages long. Curiously, Van Buren also neglected to mention her in any speeches.

As per the White House鈥檚 website, this was because 鈥淎 gentleman of that day would not shame a lady by public references.鈥�

7. He Ran for Presidency Again In 1848 As A Third-Party Candidate

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In 1841, Martin Van Buren lost his re-election bid to William Henry Harrison, the nominee of the anti-Jacksonian Whig Party. Van Buren was initially the leading candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination again in 1844, but his continued opposition to the annexation of Texas angered Southern Democrats, leading to the nomination of James K. Polk.

Sternly opposed to slavery, Van Buren was the newly formed Free Soil Party’s presidential nominee in 1848. Van Buren’s run for president in 1848 as a third-party candidate was motivated by his opposition to the expansion of slavery into the Mexican Cession, the territory acquired by the United States after the Mexican-American War.

Van Buren believed that the expansion of slavery would threaten the unity of the country and lead to civil war. Van Buren finished third in the 1848 election, losing to Whig candidate Zachary Taylor.

8. He Was an Established and Successful Lawyer

Martin Van Buren was a highly established and successful lawyer before he entered politics. He was known for his sharp intellect, his persuasive arguments, and his ability to win complex cases.

His legal career took off in 1812 when he was appointed Surrogate of Columbia County, New York. This position gave him a great deal of experience in probate and estate law.

Van Buren also served as New York Attorney General from 1815 to 1819.

9. He鈥檚 Credited with Popularizing the Term 鈥淥K鈥�

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Martin Van Buren is credited with popularizing the term “OK” during his 1840 presidential campaign. His supporters formed “OK Clubs” and used the slogan “OK” to endorse him.

The term “OK” is thought to be derived from Van Buren’s nickname, “Old Kinderhook,” which was a reference to his hometown of Kinderhook, New York.

There are a few different theories about how the term “OK” came to be associated with Van Buren. One theory is that his supporters began using the term as a shorthand way of saying “Old Kinderhook is OK.”

10. Van Buren Avoided War with Canada Over a Border

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In the early 1800s, there was a dispute over the border between the United States and Canada in the Aroostook County region of Maine. Both sides claimed the territory, and tensions were high.

In 1839, a group of Maine militiamen arrested a Canadian lumberjack who was working in the disputed territory. This incident sparked a chain of events that led to a near war between the two countries.

Van Buren began by negotiating with the British government. He tried to convince them to accept the U.S. border claims, but they refused.

He then sent General Winfield Scott, to the Aroostook County region to command the U.S. militia. He instructed the general to avoid any conflict with the British but to also protect the U.S. border.

Van Buren’s efforts paid off. In 1842, the United States and Great Britain signed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which resolved the border dispute.

Martin Van Buren may not be the most famous of American presidents, but his legacy lives on to this day. He was a skilled politician and a shrewd negotiator.

He was also a man of great vision who was ahead of his time on a number of issues, including slavery. He was a strong opponent of slavery and believed that it was a threat to the American republic.

This was over a century before the civil rights movement gained momentum.