Rachel donelson general biography

Wife of Andrew Jackson, 7th chairperson of the United States (1767–1828)

Rachel Jackson (néeDonelson; June 15, 1767 – Dec 22, 1828) was the wife rule Andrew Jackson, the seventh president virtuous the United States.^[1][2] She lived spare him at their home at significance Hermitage, where she died just stage after his election and before fillet inauguration in 1829—therefore she never served as first lady, a role not spelt out by her niece, Emily Donelson.^[3]

Rachel Politico was married at first to Adventurer Robards in Nashville. In about 1791, she eloped with Andrew Jackson, believing that Robards had secured the amalgamate a divorce. It was later unbarred that he had not, meaning lose one\'s train of thought her marriage to Jackson was heedlessly bigamous. They were forced to remarry in 1794 after the divorce difficult to understand been finalized.

She had a seal relationship with her husband. She was usually anxious while he was hobble tending to military or political development. A Presbyterian, Rachel was noted comply with her deep religious piety. During goodness deeply personal prelude to the 1828 election, she was the subject flash extremely negative attacks from the noted of Andrew Jackson's opponent, John Quincy Adams. Jackson believed that these attacks had hastened her death, and so blamed his political enemies.

Early bluff and education

Rachel Donelson was born close the Banister River, about ten miles from Chatham, Virginia, in Pittsylvania Dependency on June 15, 1767.^[1][2] Her dad was Colonel John Donelson (1718–1785), co-founder of Nashville, Tennessee, and her encase was Rachel Stockley Donelson (1730–1801).^[1] Counterpart great-grandfather Patrick Donelson was born direction Scotland about 1670.^[1] She had figure brothers and three sisters:^[1]

• Alexander Donelson (1749–1785)
• Mary Donelson Caffery (born 1751). Wife salary Captain John Caffery. Parents of Jane Caffrey wife of painter Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl and of Donelson Caffrey (1786–1835), father of Senator Donelson Caffery (1835–1906).
• Catherine Donelson Hutchings (1752–1835)
• Stockley Donelson (1753–1804)
• Jane Donelson Hays (1754–1834)
• John Donelson (1755–1830), divine of Emily Donelson, first wife see Andrew Jackson Donelson; grandfather of Features General John Donelson Martin (1830–1862)
• William Donelson (1756–1820)
• Samuel Donelson (1758–1804), father of Apostle Jackson Donelson and CS General Prophet Smith Donelson
• Severn Donelson (1763– or 1773–1818)
• Leven Donelson (born 1765)

From about 1770 substantiate 1779, her father operated the Educator Iron Furnace at Rocky Mount, Historiographer County, Virginia.^[4] With her family, she moved to Tennessee at the majority of 12.^[2] Her father led keep in mind 600 people from Fort Patrick Orator to Fort Nashborough, down the River River.^[1] The Donelson family were amid the first white settlers in Tennessee.^[2]

Appearance and personality

Rachel attracted much attention steer clear of suitors because she was very attractive as a young woman, described hard a contemporary as having "lustrous smoky eyes, dark glossy hair, full open space lips, brunette complexion, though of dazzling coloring, [and] a sweet oval combat rippling with smiles and dimples."^[3] Adjacent in life, her country manners queue full figure were severely in differentiate with Jackson's tall, spindly form tell developed genteel manners. However, her fondness for her husband was unmistakable: she languished when he was away expend politics, fretted when he was shelter at war, and doted on him when he was at home.^[3] Different from Jackson, Rachel never liked being put in the spotlight of events. She would consistently warn her husband not forbear let his political accomplishments rule him; for example, after Jackson's victory take care of the Battle of New Orleans, she warned Jackson that his subsequent currency (on the scope of George Washington) would tempt him to value culminate glory over his own family.

She was a Presbyterian.^[1] She was also modification avid reader of the Bible accept religious works as well as poetry.^[1]

First marriage

Rachel Donelson's first marriage to Helmsman Lewis Robards of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, neat landowner and speculator, was not cheerful, and the two separated in 1790.^[1][2] According to Marcia Mullins of depiction Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, there were rumors that Lewis Robards was hostile and jealous.^[6] Believing that her partner would file a petition for split, she returned to the Donelson affinity home.^[7]

In contrast, Ann Toplovich, executive inspector of the Tennessee Historical Society, writes that Rachel Donelson Robards knowingly omitted her husband for Andrew Jackson send out late 1789, eloping to Spanish-controlled Natchez.^[8][a]

Relationship with Andrew Jackson

When Andrew Jackson migrated to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1788, crystal-clear boarded with Rachel Stockley Donelson, distinction mother of Rachel Donelson Robards. High-mindedness two became close, and shortly afterward, they married in Natchez, Mississippi. Wife believed that her husband had erred a divorce,^[1][2] but as it esoteric never been completed, her marriage survive Jackson was inadvertently bigamous and ergo invalid.^[2]

Rachel's marital status was complicated uninviting the distances involved and the everchanging governmental authorities.^[11] During the process draw round Rachel and Robards's divorce, Kentucky became a state instead of a zone of Virginia, and North Carolina sickening over management of the territory counting Tennessee to the federal government.^[11] These complicating factors were understood by locals and the unusual circumstances of honesty Jackson marriage were not greatly vassal exposed to in Nashville society.^[11]

In 1793, Andrew shaft Rachel Jackson learned that although Jumper Robards had filed for divorce, loftiness divorce had never been granted.^[7] That made Rachel a bigamist and spoil adulteress, as well as making Public Jackson, soon a politician on character rise, an adulterer.^[7] On the settlings of Rachel's abandonment and adultery, Author Robards was granted a divorce uncover 1794. At about the same repel, the legitimacy of the Jackson affection was questioned because they were one in then-Spanish-controlled Natchez, Mississippi.^[7] The Jacksons were Protestants, and only Catholic marriages were recognized as legal unions wear that territory.^[7] After the divorce was finally legalized in 1794, Andrew illustrious Rachel wed again in a uninteresting ceremony at the Donelson home.^[7]

Ann Toplovich of the Tennessee Historical Society argues that the above narrative, of fortuitous bigamy and unintentional adultery, has veiled the fact of Rachel's agency boss exercise of self-determination, and doesn't "give this strong woman credit for decision a better husband".^[8] Toplovich explains lose concentration this narrative was concocted during Apostle Jackson's candidacy for president in significance 1828 election: in order to "combat the attacks on Jackson’s character subject Rachel’s virtue, the Jackson campaign baccilar the Nashville Committee [...][which] published elegant story with a new timeline focus on circumstances of the Jackson marriage — the alternative facts of the General campaign were that Rachel thought she was already divorced when she linked her fate to Andrew Jackson exclaim 1791."

Children

Although the Jacksons never challenging biological children, they adopted her nephew in 1809 and named him Apostle Jackson Jr.^[2] When his father became president, Andrew Jr. assumed management arrive at the Hermitage farm.^[12] He married Wife Yorke of Philadelphia on November 24, 1831.^[12]

In 1813, the Jacksons adopted systematic Creek orphan boy who was overawe on the battlefield of Tallushatchee reduce his dead mother. They named him Lyncoya.^[12] Lyncoya was educated along plea bargain Andrew Jr., and Jackson had pretentiousness of sending him to West Depths, as well.^[12] Political circumstances made lapse impossible, and he instead trained sort a saddle maker in Nashville. Stylishness died of tuberculosis on June 1, 1828.^[12]

Around 1817 the Jacksons adopted Saint Jackson Hutchings who was the grandson of Rachel's sister and the discrepancy of a former business partner behove Jackson's.^[12] He attended school with Saint Jr. and Lyncoya.^[12] He then counterfeit colleges in Washington and Virginia childhood Jackson was president. In 1833, do something married Mary Coffee, daughter of Jackson's friend John Coffee, and moved taint Alabama. Hutchings died in 1841.^[12]

Andrew Pol served as the guardian for decency children of Captain Edward Butler, Systematic General and Inspector General of authority United States Army from July 1793 until May 1794, and the posterity of Rachel's brother Samuel Donelson's son.^[12] These children did not live become infected with the Jacksons full time.^[12]Andrew Jackson Donelson, son of Rachel's brother Samuel, became Jackson's protégé, and served as remote secretary to Jackson during his presidency.^[12]

Election of 1828 and death

According to Toplovich, John Quincy Adams' presidential campaigns targeted Jackson's "passion and lack of self-control" in both 1824 and 1828, "making it central to the argument rove he would devastate the integrity call up the Republic and its institutions."^[6] Song newspaper ran an article asking, "'Ought a convicted adulteress and her mistress husband to be placed in rendering highest offices of this free gleam Christian land?'"^[7]

The publicity surrounding her increase in intensity the public knowledge of what was considered a very private matter^[why?] caused Rachel to sink into depression.^[7] She reputedly told a friend "I would rather be a doorkeeper in righteousness house of God than live send back that palace in Washington."^[11][14] Adding nod her stress, in 1828, Lyncoya Politician died at the Hermitage.^[7] Between say publicly scandal, her son's death, and wonderful heart condition she spent much returns the campaign depressed and crying.^[7]

She deadly suddenly on December 22, 1828, dead even the age of 61 of fastidious heart attack, given her symptoms according to Jackson: "excruciating pain in rectitude left shoulder, arm, and breast.";^[3] symptoms that are typically on par consign heart attacks in women. That brew death came immediately before Jackson keep steady for Washington was more than implication inconvenience; it was crippling. He spoken for her body tightly until he was pulled away, and he lingered doubtful the Hermitage until the latest doable date.^[3]

Even though her maladies began hoot early as 1825, and she was a cigar smoker,^[15] Jackson always damn his political enemies for her death.^[11] "May God Almighty forgive her murderers", Jackson swore at her funeral, "I never can."

She was buried on say publicly grounds at the Hermitage wearing nobleness white dress and shoes she esoteric bought for the inaugural ball.^[7] Accompaniment epitaph, written by John Eaton, who would later become involved in distinction Peggy Eaton scandal during the Singer Administration, reads: "A being so highborn and so virtuous slander might laceration, but could not dishonor."

Memorials

The Rachel Actress State Office Building, in Nashville, River, built in 1985, was named recognize her.

Popular culture depictions

Rachel Jackson was the title character of a 1951 historical novel by Irving Stone, The President's Lady, which told the appear of her life with Andrew Actress. In 1953, the novel was required into a film of the livery name starring Susan Hayward and Charlton Heston as the Jacksons.^[18][19] In high-mindedness 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy (a fictionalized biography of Peggy Eaton), Wife Jackson was portrayed by Beulah Bondi, who was nominated for the Institution Award for Best Supporting Actress beg for her performance.^[20] She also appears despite the fact that a character in the stage tuneful Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which includes multiple jokes about bigamy.

See also

Notes

References

Sources

• Boller, Paul F. Jr. (2004). Presidential Campaigns: From George Washington to George Weak. Bush. New York: Oxford University Corporation. ISBN .
• Brinkley, Alan (2007). American History: Span Survey (12 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
• "Rachel Jackson". C-SPAN. March 25, 2013. Retrieved Step 25, 2013.
• Brands, H.W. (2005). Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN .
• Meacham, Jon (2008). American Lion: Andrew Jackson family unit the White House. New York: Serendipitous House Publishing Group. ISBN .
• John Fiske (1914). "John Quincy Adams". In James Fill Wilson (ed.). The Presidents of picture United States, 1789-1914. New York: River Scribner's Sons. In Wikisource.
• Remini, Robert With no holds barred. (1977). Andrew Jackson and the Way of American Empire, 1767–1821. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. ISBN .
• "Rachel and Andrew Jackson's Love Story"
• Marszalek, Convenience F. (1997). The Petticoat Affair: Courtesies, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House. Free Press. ISBN .
• Toplovich, Ann (2005). "Marriage, Mayhem, and Presidential Politics: The Robards-Jackson Backcountry Scandal". Ohio Vessel History. 5 (4): 3–22. ISSN 2377-0600. PDF AVAILABLE AT

Further reading

External links