Tag: 1830s

John Tyler

President John Tyler, portrait

John Tyler (1790-1862) WHO HE WAS: John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States, who assumed office after the untimely death of President William Henry Harrison. Tyler was the first vice president to become president due to the death of his predecessor, setting a significant constitutional precedent. Known as “His Accidency,” Tyler’s presidency

Sequoyah

Sequoyah, Creator of the Cherokee Written Language

Sequoyah (c. 1770-1843) WHO HE WAS: Sequoyah, also known as George Gist or George Guess, was a Native American polymath of the Cherokee nation who single-handedly created the Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible. His achievements led to a profound transformation in the literacy and culture of the Cherokee people. WHAT HE

Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren, the Eighth President of the United States

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) WHO SHE WAS: Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, a key organizer of the Democratic Party, and a principal architect of American political organization during the early 19th century. Before his presidency, he served as the Secretary of State and the Vice President under Andrew Jackson,

Nicholas Biddle

Nicholas Biddle, A Controversial Figure in America's Banking History

Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844) WHO SHE WAS: Nicholas Biddle was an American financier who served as the President of the Second Bank of the United States. He became a central figure in the Bank War, a political struggle initiated by President Andrew Jackson, who opposed the renewal of the bank’s charter. WHAT HE SAID: “This worthy

William Marcy

William L. Marcy, Architect of American Political Patronage

William L. Marcy (1786-1857) WHO SHE WAS: William Learned Marcy was an influential American statesman who served as a U.S. Senator, the Governor of New York, U.S. Secretary of War, and U.S. Secretary of State. His career spanned several pivotal periods in early U.S. history, during which he was known for his practical politics and

Margaret Bayard Smith

Margaret Bayard Smith - Chronicler of the American Republic

Margaret Bayard Smith (1778-1844) WHO SHE WAS: Margaret Bayard Smith was an acclaimed author, socialite, and a prominent figure in early American society. She was known for her insightful letters and journals which provide a rich account of the political and social life in Washington, D.C., particularly during the formative years of the American republic.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson - A Controversial American President

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) WHO HE WAS: Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. Known as “Old Hickory” for his tough demeanor, he was a military hero who became a symbol of the American frontier and democracy. His presidency marked the rise of the common man and the

View from Mount Holyoke (The Oxbow), Thomas Cole (1836)

View from Mount Holyoke (The Oxbow), Thomas Cole (1836)

View from Mount Holyoke (The Oxbow), Thomas Cole (1836) “The imagination can scarcely conceive Arcadian vales more lovely or more peaceful than the valley of the Connecticut,” wrote the artist Thomas Cole in his “Essay on American Scenery.” “Its villages are rural places where trees overspread every dwelling, and the fields upon its margin have