Major General Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States.  He had the

fourth highest rank of all the presidents, below Washington,

Eisenhower, and Grant.  He is also considered to be the nation's ninth

greatest president, after Lincoln, FDR, Washington, Jefferson, Teddy

Roosevelt, Wilson, and Truman.  Therefore, he is the second greatest

warrior-president in US History, after only George Washington, himself.

Andrew Jackson's military career began in the War of 1812.  First, he

defeated Chief Red Eagle of the Creek Indians at the Battle of

Horseshoe Bend.  Then, he defeated Sir Pakenham of the British at the

Battle of New Orleans.  Even though the war was over at this point,

Jackson delivered Britain one of its greatest defeats in history, while

only suffering 21 casualties.  In the Seminole War that followed soon

after, Andrew Jackson captured Spanish Florida and became its

territorial governor, thereby founding the state of Florida, which is

currently America's fourth most powerful state.

Andrew Jackson's personal life was a tough one.  "Old Hickory" got into

103 duels.  He famously defeated Charles Dickinson, thought by many to

be the nation's greatest dueler, despite being shot two inches from the

heart.  In the Senate Chamber, Jackson also sat next to Thomas Hart

Benton, the man who had shot him repeatedly while he lay on the floor

in a hotel in Nashville in a fight a few years earlier.  While

president, he beat his would-be assassin with his own cane until his

aides apprehended him.  Lastly, at his funeral, his pet parrot had to

be removed because it was swearing too much (a skill taught to it by

Andrew Jackson, himself).

This episode only covers Andrew Jackson's life up to his presidency.

For more information, read:

The American Presidents by David Whitney

Military Blunders by Geoffrey Regan

Kaplan AP US

Government

Princeton Review AP US History

Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine