Andrew Jackson Letter
In this letter, Andrew Jackson introduces his adopted son Andrew Jackson Donelson to Reverend Holly of Tennessee University in Nashville. Jackson also inquires as to the possibility of sending another of his adopted sons and a nephew to the school.
Dates
- 1822 February 27
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
In this letter, Andrew Jackson introduces his adopted son Andrew Jackson Donelson to Reverend Holly of Tennessee University in Nashville. Jackson also inquires as to the possibility of sending another of his adopted sons and a nephew to the school.
Biographical/Historical Note
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. Born in 1767 in the frontier settlement of the Waxhaws in South Carolina, Jackson moved to Salisbury, NC in 1784 and received his license to practice law in 1787, beginning his practice in North Carolina's Western District in Washington County (now a part of Tennessee). In October 1788, he moved to Nashville, where he met his wife Rachel. After serving as the major general of the Tennessee militia for twenty years and earning recognition as a military leader in the War of 1812, Jackson was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1823 and to the presidency in 1828. After serving two terms as president, Jackson returned to the Hermitage, his Nashville home, in early 1837. Eight years later, in 1845, Jackson died at his home at the age of 78.
Andrew Jackson Donelson was born to Samuel and Mary (Smith) Donelson on August 25, 1799. He attended Cumberland College in Nashville, Tennessee before graduating from West Point in 1819. Donelson was married twice: first to Emily Tennessee Donelson (1807-1836) in 1824 and second to Elizabeth Glasglow (Martin) Randolph (1815-1871) in 1841. He had two children with his first wife, Mary Emily (Donelson) Wilcox (1829-1905) and Rachel Jackson (Donelson) Eckford (1835-1888). Andrew Donelson served as aide-de-camp to General Andrew Jackson during the First Seminole War (1817-1818) but resigned his commission in order to study law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1823. Donelson renewed his political connection with Jackson 1828 when he served as Jackson's campaign secretary during his presidential bid. Jackson invited Andrew and Emily Donelson to Washington, D.C. at the beginning of his term, where Emily Donelson served as White House Hostess and unofficial First Lady. President Tyler appointed Donelson chargé d'affaires of the United States to the Republic of Texas in 1844 and Donelson went on to serve as U.S. Minister to Prussia (1846-1848) and U.S. Minister to Germany (1848-1849). He continued his political career when he returned to the United States, running with Millard Fillmore on the American (or Know-Nothing) Party ticket in 1856. Unfortunately, their bid for the White House ended with a mere 8 electoral votes. Andrew Jackson Donelson died in Memphis, Tennessee on June 23, 1871.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Digitized Materials
This collection was digitized as part of the Volunteer Voices project. These digital materials can be accessed through the project’s webpage located at http://www.volunteervoices.org/
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository