William B. Lewis Letter to Andrew Jackson
In this letter to Andrew Jackson, William B. Lewis discusses the annexation of Texas. He writes that "I send you herewith, my dear Genl, a newspaper containing the Treaty with Texas and the Presidents message which accompanied it to the Senate-Both of which, it seems, have been CLANDESTINELY obtained and published, a few days ago, by the New York Evening Post." The back of the letter reads "From WB Lewis To General Andrew Jackson, Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee."
Dates
- 1844 April 30
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
In this letter to Andrew Jackson, William B. Lewis discusses the annexation of Texas. He writes that "I send you herewith, my dear Genl, a newspaper containing the Treaty with Texas and the Presidents message which accompanied it to the Senate-Both of which, it seems, have been CLANDESTINELY obtained and published, a few days ago, by the New York Evening Post." The back of the letter reads "From WB Lewis To General Andrew Jackson, Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee."
Biographical/Historical Note
William Berkeley Lewis was born in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1784. He moved to Nashville and began operating a plantation in the early 1800s. While in Nashville, he became close friends with Andrew Jackson, who appointed him a Quartermaster during the Creek War of 1813. Lewis was one of the earliest advocates of Jackson running for President in 1820 and proved instrumental in Jackson's election to the Senate in 1823. After his election to the Presidency in 1828, Jackson appointed Lewis second auditor of the Treasury and offered him rooms in the White House. Lewis also served on Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet, but his influence was weakened when he and the President found themselves in disagreement over the Bank of the United States and the spoils system. Lewis retained his position after Jackson left office, but was largely overlooked until President Polk (over Jackson's objections) fired him. Lewis returned to his plantation, supported the Union during the Civil War, and was elected to the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1865. Here, he formed part of the conservative opposition to Governor William Brownlow's harsh treatment of former Confederates. Lewis died at his plantation on November 12, 1866 and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) 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.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased this letter in 2010.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository