Martin Van Buren, the 8th President, was born on December 5, 1782, in New York. Known as the “Little Magician” for his political acumen, Van Buren helped form the Democratic Party and was instrumental in Andrew Jackson’s presidency before becoming president himself.
His term, however, was marred by the Panic of 1837, a severe economic depression that lasted throughout his presidency. Van Buren’s response to the crisis, including the Independent Treasury system to handle government funds, was criticized for not doing enough to alleviate economic distress. His administration also saw the continuation of the Trail of Tears, as he carried out policies initiated under Jackson regarding Native American removal.
Van Buren’s foreign policy included navigating U.S.-Britain relations, particularly over border disputes in Maine and Oregon. After losing his bid for reelection in 1840, he ran again in 1848 as the candidate for the Free Soil Party, opposing the expansion of slavery. Van Buren retired to his estate in Kinderhook, New York, where he died on July 24, 1862, having lived through the start of the Civil War, which he had once tried to forestall through political means.
