Andrew Jackson Donelson was an American soldier, lawyer, politician, diplomat, candidate for Vice President of the United States.
Background
Andrew Jackson Donelson was born on August 25, 1799 in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States. He was associated from birth with the man for whom he was named. Samuel Donelson eloped with Mary, only daughter of General Daniel Smith, a prominent pioneer, Andrew Jackson, Samuel's business partner, assisted the young lovers. It was fitting that their son should be named Andrew Jackson. Young Andrew’s father died while he was yet a child, and when his mother married a second time, Jackson took his namesake and his wife’s nephew to “The Hermitage” and reared him there.
Education
Andrew Jackson was first sent to Cumberland College in Nashville, and then to the United States Military Academy.
On graduating from West Point, where he completed four years’ work in three and ranked second in his class, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Jackson and served with him during the Seminole campaign.
Resigning from the army, he went to Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky, to take up the study of law.
Career
In 1823 Donelson was admitted to the bar and began practise in Nashville.
Jackson’s first campaign for the presidency was in progress at that time, and Donelson became his confidential secretary.
He now made his home at “Tulip Grove, ” an estate across the way from “The Hermitage, ” and became once more, in effect, a member of the General’s family.
With the end of Jackson’s administration, his private secretary returned to Nashville with the General, refusing to take office under the Van Buren administration. Jackson and his friends were not forgotten in Washington, however, and when the question of the annexation of Texas came to a head, President Tyler, hoping to secure Democratic support, appointed Donelson to carry on negotiations with the new republic.
When Polk came into office, Donelson retained the post, and completed his task in a thoroughly creditable manner.
His success in this undertaking, as well as his nearness to Jackson, gave him strong claims upon the new administration.
In 1850 the noted Southern Convention met in Nashville. Donelson took keen interest in the early stages of this movement, but when the second session fell under the influence of the radical Southern element, he withdrew his support.
This incident ended his political career.
When Andrew Jackson died, an impoverished old man, he left to his namesake, who had served him so faithfully, his blessing and the sword which his state had presented him.
With it he left the injunction that “he fail not to use it when necessary in support . .. of the constitutional rights of our beloved country, should they be assailed by foreign enemies or domestic traitors”.
When the Civil War was precipitated, Donelson was asked to lend his support to the cause of his section, but answered that he could not draw the sword of Jackson against the old flag.
Achievements
Politics
In 1850 the noted Southern Convention met in Nashville. Donelson took keen interest in the early stages of this movement, but when the second session fell under the influence of the radical Southern element, he withdrew his support.
In 1851 he succeeded Ritchie as editor of the Washington Union, but, not being able to go along with his party in its drift toward sectionalism, he ceased to cooperate with it.
Connections
In 1824 Donelson married his first cousin, Emily, daughter of Captain John Donelson, and grand-daughter of Colonel John Donelson, the pioneer. Emily was to preside as mistress of the White House. Emily died in 1836, and five years later Donelson married another cousin, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin Randolph.