Van Buren, Martin

Martin (1782-1862), the eighth president of the United States. He was born at Kinderhook, New York, December 5, 1782, and died there, July 24, 1862. He was the son of a farmer. He attended the village academy and concluded his education by reading law in a New York office. He was admitted to the bar in 1803. He took an active part in politics from the first. He held various state and county offices. In 1821 he was sent to the United States Senate, and seven years later was elected governor of New York. He was President Jackson's first secretary of state, and was appointed minister to England, but the Senate refused to ratify the selection. In 1832 he was elected vice-president, and in 1836 he was elected to the presidency, defeating William Henry Harrison. Four years later he was defeated for reelection by General Harrison. He was the first nominee of the Free Soil party in 1848. In all save his opposition to slavery, Van Buren was a zealous Democrat. He was an ardent supporter of Jackson, Pierce, and Buchanan. He favored states' rights and opposed the use of national funds for internal improvements. During his four years' service as president he established the independent treasury of the United States. He also pleased workingmen by prescribing a ten-hour day for all employes of the national government. Van Buren was not a man of preeminent ability, but he was genial, patriotic, and honorable, a friend of labor and a good neighbor. He passed the close of his life on his farm at Kinderhook. See President