Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson (1767-1845)

Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson’s presidency was preceded by his reputation as a hothead, but an indomitable and effective general.

by Blaine Taylor On Dec. 1, 1814, Andrew Jackson and his staff rode into New Orleans to take command of the defense of the American city. According to his biographer Robert V. Remini, “The crowd was startled when they saw this frail-looking man. He seemed emaciated and his complexion was sallow and ghostly … He was 47 years of age, his hair iron-gray, his face long and gaunt.” [text_ad] And yet, having lost all the members of his immediate family in the first war for American Indepen