JACKSON, ANDREW, Gen., and seventh president of the United States of America, was h. at Waxhaw settlement, S. O.. Mar. 15, 1767. his father, who was a Seotehman by birth, eminated to America in 1765 leaving , and soon afterward died, leing to his widow a half-cleared farm in a new settlement, with no negroes to assist in its cultivation. When Jackson grew up lie was sent to study for the church, but on the breaking out of the American revolution he and his brothers were summoned to the field. and the elder lost his life at Stono Ferry. Andrew, though but 13 years old, fought with his remaining brother under Sumter, and remained with the army until the end of the war. The life of the camp had ruined him for the clerical office, so in 1784 he commenced the study of the law, and in 1787 was appointed solicitor for the western district of South Carolina, now the state of Tennessee. This frontier settlement had for its neighbors several power ful tribes of Indians, against whom Jackson fought with such success as to get from them the complimentary titles of " Sharp Knife' and " Pointed Arrow." In 1796 he was a member of the conventiim which modeled the constitution and organized the state of Tennessee, and was elected to the legislature as representative, and then as senator, and appointed judge of the supreme court (an office he soon resigned), and maj.gen. of the state militia. In 1813, at an outbreak of hostilities with the Creek Indians, he raised a volunteer force of 2,000 or 3.000 men, and defeated them. When destitute of supplies he is said to have set an example of endurance by feeding on hickory nuts, and hence, according to some, to have acquired the popular sobriquet of " Old Hickory." Jack son's final victory (Mar. 27, 1814) at the Horseshoe peninsula, in the Tallahoosa, com pletely broke the power o the Indian race in North America, In consequence of his skill and energy in Indian warfare lie was appointed a maj.gen. of the army of the
United States; and in the contemporaneous war with England had command of the forces which captured Pensacola, and defended New Orleans (q.v.) against the attack of the British under gen. Paekenham, Dec., 1814. The result of this action, so flattering to the pride of Americans, gave gen. Jackson a great and enduring popularity. After Spain had ceded Florida to the United States he was made gov. of the territory, and subsequently was chosen U. S. senator from Tennessee. In 1S24 he received the highest vote of four candidates for the presidency of the United States, but by the influence of Mr. Clay, John Quincy Adams was elected by the house of representatives. He was, however, in spite of bitter and violent opposition, elected by the democratic party in 1828, and in 1832 re-elected by a still more overwhelming majority. His administration was marked by singular firmness. He vetoed important measures against large majori ties, and after a long struggle destroyed the bank of the United States, and took the first steps toward a specie currency and independent treasury. But he manifested too much, perhaps, of a partisan spirit in removing nearly all his political opponents from office, and appointing his supporters—au example followed by his successors of both parties, and which has led to wide corruption. His administration, as a whole, was success ful, and lie retired with Undiminished popularity, after witnessing the election of his favorite, president Van Buren. He died at his farm of the Hermitage, near Nashville, June 8, 1845.