Abraham Van Buren II (November 27, 1807 – March 15, 1873) was the eldest son of

Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren ( ; nl, Maarten van Buren; ; December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. A primary founder of the Democratic Party, he ...

, the eighth

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

and his wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren. A career soldier and veteran of the Second Seminole War and

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

, Van Buren was named in honor of his paternal grandfather

Abraham Van Buren (I) Abraham Van Buren (February 17, 1737 – April 8, 1817) was the father of Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States. Biography Abraham Van Buren was born in Albany, New York on February 17, 1737, the son of Marten Pieterse Van ...

, an officer in the

Albany County militia The Albany County militia was the colonial militia of Albany County, New York. Drawn from the general male population, by law all male inhabitants from 15 to 55 had to be enrolled in militia companies, the later known by the name of their commanders ...

during the Revolutionary War. Van Buren served as his father's private secretary during his father's presidential term. In his later years, he helped oversee management of his wife's South Carolina plantation and traveled extensively in Europe.

Early life

Abraham Van Buren II was born in

Kinderhook, New York Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,330 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous municipality in Columbia County. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the ...

on November 27, 1807, the eldest son of

(1782–1862) and Hannah Hoes (1783–1819). Van Buren was educated in Kinderhook and attended Greenville Academy. At age 15, Van Buren began attendance at the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

. He graduated in 1827, ranked 37th of 38. Van Buren received his commission as a second lieutenant of

Infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

Career

Early career

After receiving his commission, Van Buren served with the 2nd Infantry Regiment at

Jefferson Barracks The Jefferson Barracks Military Post is located on the Mississippi River at Lemay, Missouri, south of St. Louis. It was an important and active U.S. Army installation from 1826 through 1946. It is the oldest operating U.S. military installation ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

and

Fort Dearborn Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River, in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

from 1827 to 1829. From 1829 to 1836 he served as aide-de-camp to Alexander Macomb,

Commanding General of the United States Army The Commanding General of the United States Army was the title given to the service chief and highest-ranking officer of the United States Army (and its predecessor the Continental Army), prior to the establishment of the Chief of Staff of the ...

. In 1833, Van Buren received promotion to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

. In July 1836, Van Buren was promoted to captain in the 1st Dragoon Regiment. He served with his regiment in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

during the Second Seminole War.

White House

On March 3, 1837, Van Buren resigned his commission so he could he could become the president's private secretary after his father was inaugurated on March 4. He remained in this position until the end of his father's term in March 1841. Van Buren's time in the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

ended after his father was defeated by Whig candidate

William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, and had the shortest pres ...

in the 1840 election. Van Buren and his wife Angelica left Washington in March 1841 and visited with Angelica's family in Sumter, South Carolina, where Angelica gave birth to their son Singleton.

Return to Army

At the outbreak of the

in June 1846, Van Buren was reappointed in the army as a paymaster with the rank of major. Van Buren served as an aide to Generals

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...

and

Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...

and took part in the

Battle of Contreras The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place on 19–20 August 1847, in one of the final encounters of the Mexican–American War, as invading U.S. forces under Winfield Scott approached the Mexican capital. Americ ...

Battle of Monterrey In the Battle of Monterrey (September 21–24, 1846) during the Mexican–American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North was defeated by the Army of Occupation, a force of United States Regulars, Volunteers an ...

Siege of Veracruz The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War. Lasting from March 9–29, 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States ...

Battle of Cerro Gordo The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, was an engagement in the Mexican–American War on April 18, 1847. The battle saw Winfield Scott's United States troops outflank Antonio López de Santa Anna's larger Mexican army, driving ...

, and Battle of Churubusco. In August 1847, Van Buren was promoted to lieutenant colonel by brevet to recognize his gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. Van Buren was an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847. After Mexico's surrender, Scott appointed Van Buren as the military representative empowered to discuss peace terms with Mexican authorities. Van Buren joined American diplomat

Nicholas Trist Nicholas Philip Trist (June 2, 1800 – February 11, 1874) was an American lawyer, diplomat, planter, and businessman. Even though he was dismissed by President James K. Polk as the negotiator with the Mexican government, he negotiated the Treat ...

in the subsequent talks, which ended when Trist obtained Mexico's agreement to the settlement that was later ratified as the

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ( es, Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo), officially the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States, is the peace treaty that was signed on 2 ...

. Following his return to the United States, Van Buren aided Scott to prepare a defense of Scott's wartime conduct for a court of inquiry. He also gave testimony on Scott's behalf and the inquiry resulted in Scott's exoneration.

Later career

After his Mexican War service, Van Buren and his family settled in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. He suffered two strokes soon after relocating, and never completely regained his abilities to walk and speak. He continued to serve as an army paymaster until resigning in 1854. In retirement, he oversaw management of his wife's South Carolina plantation prior to the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

and traveled extensively in Europe. In 1859, Van Buren sold his wife's plantation on her behalf, receiving $147,000 (nearly $5.5 million in 2021) for the 210 slaves purchased by a plantation owner from

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

. In spite of his absence while serving in the military, Van Buren was still close to his father. His wife and he enjoyed extended stays at the former president's Lindenwald estate and spent winters in South Carolina.

Personal life

Family

In 1838,

Dolley Madison Dolley Todd Madison (née Payne; May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849) was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for holding Washington social functions in which she invited members of bo ...

, widow of former President

James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...

, introduced Van Buren to her cousin,

Angelica Singleton Sarah Angelica Van Buren (Married and maiden names, ''née'' Singleton; February 13, 1818 – December 29, 1877) was an American heiress and the daughter-in-law of the eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren. She was married to the ...

(1818–1877), at a

dinner hosted by his father. Singleton was a daughter of a wealthy

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

planter, and a refined lady who had been schooled in the fine arts at

Madame Grelaud's French School Madame Grelaud's French School, also called Madame Grelaud's Seminary, was a boarding school for girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which ran from approximately 1809–1849. Many prominent northerners and southerners sent their daughters to such in ...

in Philadelphia. Van Buren fell in love with her and the two were married at Colonel Richard Singleton's

Wedgefield, South Carolina Wedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield is also a Census Designated Place (CDP). Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a ...

plantation named "Home Place". The President was unable to attend the couple's wedding; however, he was delighted with the match. The newlyweds honeymooned in London. Upon returning to the United States, Angelica assumed the duties of "White House Hostess" because her mother-in-law had died in 1819 and Martin Van Buren had not remarried. The couple had four children. * Rebecca Van Buren (1840–1840), died young * Singleton Van Buren (1841–1885) * Martin Van Buren II (1844–1885) * Travis Coles Van Buren (1848–1889)

Death and burial

Van Buren died in New York City on March 15, 1873. He was buried alongside his wife at Woodlawn Cemetery in

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

Dates of rank

Van Buren's effective dates of rank were: * Second Lieutenant of Infantry (Brevet) – July 1, 1827 * Second Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry – July 1, 1827 * First Lieutenant, 1st Dragoons – March 4, 1833 * Captain, 1st Dragoons – July 4, 1836 * Resigned – March 3, 1837 * Major, Pay Department – June 26, 1846 * Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet) – August 20, 1847 * Resigned – June 1, 1854

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buren, Abraham 1807 births 1873 deaths American military personnel of the Mexican–American War American people of Dutch descent American planters Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York) Children of presidents of the United States Children of vice presidents of the United States Martin Van Buren Members of the Aztec Club of 1847 People from Kinderhook, New York Personal secretaries to the President of the United States Secretaries United States Army paymasters United States Military Academy alumni Abraham 1807