Andrew Jackson was born on the 15th of March, 1767, at the Waxhaw settlement, in South Carolina. His parents, who were natives of the north of Ireland, emigrated to this country about two years previous to the birth of their son. Having lost his father at an early age, he was left to the care of a faithful and devoted mother, who was anxious to give him such an education as her limited means would permit. For this purpose she placed him at an academy, where he remained until his studies were interrupted by the advance of the British troops into the neighborhood, involving his native spot in a scene of commotion. At the age of fourteen he abandoned his studies for the colonial camp; where, in company with an elder brother, he joined the American army. The troops to which they were attached withdrew to North Carolina, but soon returned again to their own state. Before long they had the misfortune of being made prisoners by the enemy, who treated them with great barbarity, and inflicted injuries upon them from which the brother soon after died.

Andrew only escaped with his life, by receiving on his hand the stroke of the sword which was aimed with fury at his head, by an excited British officer, for refusing to perform some menial service.

His mother survived the death of her son but a few weeks, thus leaving Andrew sole heir to the small estate possessed by his late parents. In 1784, he commenced the study of law in Salisbury, North Carolina; was admitted to practice in 1786, and removed in 1788 to Nashville, Tennessee, then a new settlement in the western district of North Carolina. This district having been ceded to the United States, and organized into a territory in 1790, he was appointed to the office of United States attorney; and when the territory, in its turn in 1796, became the state of Tennessee, he was a leading member of the convention to frame a constitution for it, and took a conspicuous part in the proceedings of that body. Professional success attended him, in consequence of the singular condition of the settlers, and being the only practitioner, introduced him to a lucrative business. He was soon after chosen a representative, and the next year a senator in Congress; his seat in the senate he resigned at the end of the first session; but was immediately appointed, by the legislature of Tennessee, a judge of the supreme court of that state, an office from which he also soon retired. At his farm on the Cumberland river, near Nashville, he continued to reside till the breaking out of the war with Great Britain in 1812. From this time until 1814, Andrew Jackson was employed by government at the head of between two and three thousand volunteers, as a major-general, against a hostile movement of the Creek and Muscogee Indians, who had invaded the frontier settlements of Alabama and Georgia, and inflicted on the inhabitants the usual horrors of savage warfare. After a succession of bloody victories achieved by him over these tribes, a treaty was concluded, and they agreed to suspend their warfare. In 1814 he was appointed a major-general in the United States service; and proceeded to take the command of the forces intended for the defence of New Orleans, against the apprehended attack of the enemy. On arriving there on the 1st of December, he took decided measures, acting with the greatest promptness. Fearing the treachery of some disaffected individuals, he at once proclaimed martial law, superseding at once the civil authority by the introduction of a rigid military police. Towards the enemy he acted with the most determined energy. The British troops had no sooner effected a landing, than he marched against them, and by assailing them in the night of the 22d of December, gained great advantages, not only by proving to his followers what their ability was able to perform, but also to communicate to the invaders what they had to encounter.

This protracted contest was brought to a close by the memorable battle of the 8th of January, 1815, which raised the reputation of the American commander to the highest pitch among his countrymen, and served as a satisfactory apology, with many, for the strong measures adopted by him before the landing of the enemy, and immediately on his retreat. Congress voted to General Jackson the thanks of that body and a gold medal. (See Plate VII.)

In 1818 General Jackson conducted a war against the Seminole Indians, and with a force of Georgia militia and volunteers from Tennessee, he penetrated into Florida to the villages of the savages and fugitive slaves who had joined them, setting fire to their habitations and scattering devastation in all directions. In 1821, he was appointed governor of Florida, that territory having been transferred by Spain to the United States, but resigned the office at the end of one year and returned to his farm near Nashville.

In 1822 the legislature of Tennessee nominated General Jackson as the successor of Mr. Monroe, in the presidency of the United States; the proposition was favorably received in many parts of the Union, but by the provisions of the constitution the election devolved on the House of Representatives, in Congress, voting by states, and Mr. Adams was selected to be the president. General Jackson was at once nominated to succeed Mr. Adams, and was elected president in 1828, and again in 1832 he was re-elected to that high office.

At the end of his second term, General Jackson retired to his farm called the “Hermitage,” near Nashville, where he remained until his death, which took place on the 8th of June, 1845, in the 78th year of his age. Though enfeebled in body he retained his mental faculties undiminished until the day of his death.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.

Occasion.—Victory at New Orleans.

Device.—Bust of General Jackson.

Legend.—Major-General Andrew Jackson.

Reverse.—Victory seated and supporting a tablet before her with her left hand, which also holds a laurel wreath; has commenced the record of the glorious victory of the 8th of January, 1815, and headed the tablet with the word Orleans, but is interrupted by a female personifying peace, who holds an olive branch in her right hand, and with her left points to the tablet, as if directing Victory to record the peace between the United States and England. Victory is in the act of turning round to listen to her instructress.

Exergue.—Battle of New Orleans, January 8th, 1815.

Legend.—Resolution of Congress, February 27th, 1815.