Andrew Jackson
A pugnacious populist who reshaped American politics by championing the common white man while brutally displacing Native nations.
1767–1845 (age 78)·President of the United States from 1829 to 1837·Birthday: March 15
Biography
Born in the backwoods of the Carolinas, Andrew Jackson’s early life was marked by hardship and violence, including his capture by British forces during the Revolutionary War. His fiery temper and military ambition propelled him to national fame as the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. As president, Jackson wielded his power with a combative, personal style, dismantling the national bank and declaring his administration a direct voice for the people—a philosophy that defined an era. His legacy is indelibly stained by the Indian Removal Act, which forced the brutal, deadly displacement of tens of thousands of Indigenous people along the Trail of Tears. Jackson left the White House a figure of intense adoration and hatred, having fundamentally strengthened the executive branch and realigned American democracy around a more confrontational, partisan model.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1767
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1767Born
1772Started school
1780Became a teenager
1783Could drive
1785Could vote
1788Turned 21
1797Turned 30
1807Turned 40
1817Turned 50
1827Turned 60
1837Turned 70
1845Died at 78
Key Achievements
- Led American forces to a decisive victory against the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
- As the seventh U.S. President, he championed the expansion of voting rights to all white men, fueling the rise of Jacksonian democracy.
- Successfully dismantled the Second Bank of the United States, viewing it as a corrupt institution favoring the elite.
- Signed and enforced the Indian Removal Act of 1830, leading to the forced relocation of numerous Native American tribes.
- Was the first president to survive an assassination attempt, when both pistols aimed at him misfired in 1835.
Did You Know?
He was involved in as many as 100 duels, often to defend his wife Rachel's honor, and carried a bullet in his chest from one for decades.
Jackson introduced the spoils system to the federal government on a large scale, rewarding political supporters with government jobs.
He kept a 1,400-pound block of cheese in the White House foyer for two years before giving it to the public at an open house.
Jackson's pet parrot, Poll, had to be removed from his funeral because it was swearing.
““One man with courage makes a majority.””
