The 8th President of the United States
Name: Martin Van Buren
Number of terms he served: One
Year he took office: 1837
Birth Date: December 5, 1782
Age when he took office: 55
State of Birth: Kinderhook, New York
Vice President: Richard M. Johnson
What Party was he from: Democrat
What was his major contribution while in office:
Martin Van Buren had, in his inauguration speech, said that he would fight any attempts to abolish slavery in the South. But when Texas tried to be a part of the Union, if Van Buren were to keep a good balance of slave states and free states Texas would be a free state. This though would not go over well with the Texans because the reason they wanted to be a part of the Union was that they won the war against Mexico for their freedom and right to own slaves. Finally Van Buren made up his mind and didn’t allow Texas as a state at all.
What did he do after he left office:
When Martin Van Buren lost the 1840 election most democrats saw him as a weak candidate. And most democrats didn’t agree with his decision with Texas, even democrats such as Andrew Jackson and Thomas Ritchie who were allies with Van Buren weren’t siding with him. He lost the next four elections to Harrison, Tyler, Polk, and Taylor. In 1861 Van Buren grew ill with pneumonia and was in bed from the winter of 1861 to the fall of 1862. He died on July 24th, 1862.
Did he have a nickname:
Yes, Little Magician
Was he married:
Yes, Hannah Hoes
Did he have children:
Yes, 4