Andrew Jackson, Died 8th June 1845

In order to remain this side of maudlin, I have decided to dedicate today to Andrew Jackson: Born March 15th 1767, died 8th June 1845. Brits aged less than 50 know and care little for historic US Presidents with the exception of Georgie Boy Washington, Abe Lincoln, and Willy Clinton. Deep throat what? said the rest of the world, remembering Linda Lovelace. Most of us only know about Kennedy because of Marilyn Monroe, and we have entirely forgotten Reagan, just like he did before he died.

Still, just because Americans generally inhabit a world which stops at their borders doesn't mean we all have to follow suit. As an internationalist and a situationist, I have this morning made a brief study of Andrew "I'll Smash Them" Jackson, a fellow Pisces, and here is it, served up in a nice omelette with salad and fresh blood.

Jackson - "I know what I am fit for. I can command a body of men in a rough way; but I am not fit to be President" - was the 7th U.S President and the first to enter office from a background of abject poverty. He was the first governor of Florida after it had been purchased, a Democrat soldier who served two terms, and a contradictory and contraversial figure to this day. He famously killed 2000 Brits in the 1815 battle for New Orleans, and Charles Dickinson for besmirching his wife's honour. He is known historically for creating a strong executive branch.

Here's the trivia:

• He survived the first assassination attempt on a president


• He was the first sitting president to ride a train when he took the Baltimore and Ohio in Maryland from Elliott's Mills to Baltimore on June 6th 1833.


• He was the first president to be born in a log cabin


• He was the first president to be nominated by a political party


• At age 13, while serving in the army, he was captured by the British. The British officer in charge ordered Jackson to clean his boots. Jackson refused; the officer struck him with his sword, leaving Jackson's face and hand permanently scarred.


• After the death of his niece Emily in 1836, Sarah Jackson, wife of his adopted nephew, acted as First Lady.

By far the best website I found quotes Melville's Moby Dick:

Thou who didst pick up Andrew Jackson from the pebbles; who didst hurl him upon a war-horse; who didst thunder him higher than a throne!

Another interesting read, once you've paid your respects to this remarkable historic figure, is this piece on Linda Lovelace, without whom Deep Throat would not have existed and Nixon would not have been impeached. Or something like that.