Happy Birthday, Martin
Today is Martin Van Buren's birthday. The country's 8th president was from Kinderhook -- in fact, you can visit his house there.
Van Buren was the first American president to be born a US citizen (but he grew up speaking Dutch). And while his presidency gets all the notoriety now, he also served in a bunch of other offices: New York state Senate, Governor of New York (briefly), US Senate, US Secretary of State and Vice President.
Here's the Van Buren story in 7 minutes:
(Thanks, Matt!)
Earlier on AOA: Teddy Roosevelt: badass
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Comments
As U.S. Mint representative was in Kinderhook this morning to officially introduce a new $1 coin honoring our nation's 8th leader.
... said jess on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:31 AM | link
Martin Van Buren was, at one point in my life, the bane of my existence.... I used to be on the K-hook beat - that town LOVES the Sly Old Fox
... said kate on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM | link
He's like my boyfriend's great, great, great, great grand uncle or something like that! :)
... said Kari on Dec 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM | link
As a Kinderhook native and Ichabod Crane alum I can confirm the fact that we are nuts about MVB. And very possessive of him, too (only slightly more possessive than we are of Washington Irving. If you value your life you should never say that The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was actually written in Sleepy Hollow.) When I met Jackers a few years ago and he found out where I was from he sighed and said, "You people think Martin Van Buren is your damn UNCLE."
... said Leigh on Dec 6, 2008 at 2:22 PM | link