President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767, at Waxhaw Settlement, located on the border of North and South Carolina. His family emigrated from Northern Ireland two years before his birth. At age 13, Jackson and his brother were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War. Orphaned at 14, he wasted a large inheritance before becoming a schoolteacher and studying law. In 1787, he was admitted to the bar and later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he prospered as a lawyer and landowner. He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1796. During the War of 1812, he commanded 2,000 men and defeated 800 Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He became a major general and, on January 8, 1815, led a successful defense against 8,000 British soldiers near New Orleans, becoming a national hero, despite the war having officially ended two weeks earlier. In 1821, Jackson served as provisional governor of Florida and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1823. Five years later, he became president. In December 1828, his wife Rachel died after enduring personal attacks during the campaign. Jackson's presidency was marked by his opposition to the national bank, support for tariffs, efforts to pay off the national debt, and the seizure of Indian lands. He retired in Nashville and died on June 8, 1845, being buried beside his wife at the Hermitage.