Donelson, Andrew Jackson, 1799-1871

Andrew Jackson Donelson was nephew, ward, and personal secretary to President Andrew Jackson throughout his administration. President John Tyler (1841-1845) appointed him chargé d'affaires of the United States to the Republic of Texas and he was U.S. Minister to Prussia from 1846 to 1849. Donelson was nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of former President Millard Fillmore on the American Party ticket in 1856, but they garnered only 8 electoral votes.

From the description of A.J. Donelson letter, 1845 Feb. 4. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 140403487

Lawyer, editor, army officer, diplomat, and presidential secretary.

From the description of Andrew Jackson Donelson papers, 1779-1943 (bulk 1813-1869). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 705569463

U.S. Army officer and aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson; Tennessee lawyer and planter; confidential secretary to Andrew Jackson, 1824-1836; represented the U.S. in negotiations with the Republic of Texas, 1845; Minister to Prussia and the German Confederation, 1846-1849; editor of the Washington Union, 1851-1852; vice-presidential nominee on the Fillmore ticket, 1856.

From the description of Andrew Jackson Donelson family papers, 1799-1898. (Tennessee State Library & Archives). WorldCat record id: 29646703

Soldier, lawyer, politician, and diplomat Andrew Jackson Donelson (1799-1871) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Samuel and Mary Donelson. After his father's death and his mother's remarriage, Donelson moved to the Hermitage, the Nashville home of his aunt and namesake uncle, Rachel Donelson and Andrew Jackson. Donelson served as General Jackson's aide-de-camp during the First Seminole War. A West Point Salutatorian, Donelson resigned from the army shortly after the Seminole campaign and studied law at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1823, Donelson returned to Nashville to practice law and married his first cousin, Emily Tennessee Donelson (1807-1836). The Donelsons lived in Washington with President Jackson for most of his two terms while building their home, Tulip Grove, adjacent to the Hermitage. Donelson served as the president's private secretary, and Emily acted as the official hostess of the White House. Emily died in 1836, leaving four small children. Donelson remarried five years later and had eight more children with Elizabeth Martin Randolph.

After Donelson's return to Nashville, President John Tyler selected him to negotiate the annexation of Texas in 1844. His success led to Donelson’s appointment as minister to Prussia from 1846 to 1849. In 1851, he became editor of the Democratic newspaper Washington Union, but left this position as the party moved toward sectionalism. Donelson’s national political career ended in 1856 with an unsuccessful campaign for vice-president on the Millard Fillmore ticket, supported by the Know-Nothing Party. In 1858, Donelson sold Tulip Grove and moved his family and law practice to Memphis, where he remained active in local politics.

Source:

Wells, Camille. “ Andrew Jackson Donelson, 1799-1871 .” The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture . Accessed November 15, 2010.

From the guide to the Donelson, Andrew Jackson, Papers, 1844-1846, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Soldier, lawyer, politician, and diplomat Andrew Jackson Donelson (1799-1871) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Samuel and Mary Donelson.

After his father's death and his mother's remarriage, Donelson moved to the Hermitage, the Nashville home of his aunt and namesake uncle, Rachel Donelson and Andrew Jackson. Donelson served as General Jackson's aide-de-camp during the First Seminole War. A West Point Salutatorian, Donelson resigned from the army shortly after the Seminole campaign and studied law at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1823, Donelson returned to Nashville to practice law and married his first cousin, Emily Tennessee Donelson (1807-1836). The Donelsons lived in Washington with President Jackson for most of his two terms while building their home, Tulip Grove, adjacent to the Hermitage. Donelson served as the president's private secretary, and Emily acted as the official hostess of the White House. Emily died in 1836, leaving four small children. Donelson remarried five years later and had eight more children with Elizabeth Martin Randolph.

After Donelson's return to Nashville, President John Tyler selected him to negotiate the annexation of Texas in 1844. His success led to Donelson's appointment as minister to Prussia from 1846 to 1849. In 1851, he became editor of the Democratic newspaper Washington Union, but left this position as the party moved toward sectionalism. Donelson's national political career ended in 1856 with an unsuccessful campaign for vice-president on the Millard Fillmore ticket, supported by the Know-Nothing Party. In 1858, Donelson sold Tulip Grove and moved his family and law practice to Memphis, where he remained active in local politics.

From the description of Donelson, Andrew Jackson, Papers, 1844-1846 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 775357926

Biographical Note

• 1799, Aug. 25: Born, near Nashville, Tenn.
• 1805, circa: Became ward of Andrew Jackson
• 1817: Appointed cadet, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
• 1820: Graduated, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
• 1820 - 1821 : Aide-de-camp to General Andrew Jackson at Nashville, Tenn., and in Florida
• 1822: Resigned from the army
• 1822 - 1823 : Studied law, Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky.
• 1823: Admitted to bar, Nashville, Tenn., and commenced practice there
• 1824: Married Emily Tennessee Donelson, a cousin Assisted Andrew Jackson in unsuccessful presidential campaign of 1824
• 1825 - 1828 : Engaged in legal practice in Nashville, Tenn., and farming near Nashville
• 1828: Assisted Andrew Jackson in successful campaign for presidency
• 1829 - 1837 : private secretary and confidential advisor to President Andrew Jackson, residing at White House
• 1836: Death of Emily Tennessee Donelson
• 1837: Returned to Tennessee
• 1841: Married Elizabeth Martin Randolph, widow of Lewis Randolph
• 1844 - 1845 : Chargé d'affaires to Republic of Texas
• 1846 - 1848 : Minister to Prussia
• 1848 - 1849 : Minister to Federal Government of Germany
• 1851 - 1852 : Edited Washington Union
• 1856: Vice-presidential candidate on the Millard Fillmore ticket, American Party
• 1871, June 26: Died, Memphis, Tenn.

From the guide to the Andrew Jackson Donelson Papers, 1779-1943, (bulk 1813-1869), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)