Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands is a biography of the seventh President of the United States. Currently Professor Brands (@hwbrands) is tweeting the history of American in haiku: very original, entertaining, educational and highly recommended.
Andrew Jackson was born in northern South Carolina and at the age of 13 was already a member of the Revolutionary Army and a prisoner of the British. After securing his release, his mother left him an orphan at the age of 14, but Jackson thrived and became a lawyer through apprenticeships. By 1788 Jackson became the solicitor for Nashville, a frontier town.
Jackson was a brawler, gambler and kept dueling with pistols well into middle age; he also traded slave, speculated on land and horses as well as being a merchant. Thriving in his new state of Tennessee, Jackson was soon elected head of the militia with the rank of major general. Despite having a little military experience, Jackson proved to be a capable commander and a ruthless yet resourceful Indian fighter. After smashing British defenses at the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson became a great American military hero, rivaled only by Washington, which led him to the presidency in 1828.
Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands manages to convey just how complex Andrew Jackson was as a person, husband, general and president. The book brings to life its subject by combining history and literary methods to make an interesting and fascinating profile.
Even though many people have forgotten about President Jackson (even though he is much better known than other presidents) he led a full and exciting life. Mr. Brands starts, where else, in the beginning being born into poverty, fighting the British in the Carolinas, becoming a lawyer, Congressman (R-TN), a militia general and ultimately President of these United States.
Article comments