Andrew Jackson Donelson: Jacksonian and Unionist (New Perspectives on Jacksonian America)

This richly detailed biography of Andrew Jackson Donelson (1799-1871) sheds new light on the political and personal life of this nephew and namesake of Andrew Jackson. A scion of a pioneering Tennessee family, Donelson was a valued assistant and trusted confidant of the man who defined the Age of Jackson. One of those central but background figures of history, Donelson had a knack for being where important events were happening and knew many of the great figures of the age. As his uncle's secretary, he weathered Old Hickory's tumultuous presidency, including the notorious "Petticoat War." Building his own political career, he served as US chargé d'affaires to the Republic of Texas, where he struggled against an enigmatic President Sam Houston, British and French intrigues, and the threat of war by Mexico, to achieve annexation. As minister to Prussia, Donelson enjoyed a ringside seat to the revolutions of 1848 and the first attempts at German unification. A firm Unionist in the mold of his uncle, Donelson denounced the secessionists at the Nashville Convention of 1850. He attempted as editor of the Washington Union to reunite the Democratic party, and, when he failed, he was nominated as Millard Fillmore's vice-presidential running mate on the Know-Nothing party ticket in 1856. He lived to see the Civil War wreck the Union he loved, devastate his farms, and take the lives of two of his sons. This richly detailed biography of Andrew Jackson Donelson(1799-1871) sheds new light on the political and personal life ofthis nephew and namesake of Andrew Jackson. A scion of a pioneeringTennessee family, Donelson was a valued assistant and trustedconfidant of the man who defined the Age of Jackson. One of thosecentral but background figures of history, Donelson had a knack forbeing where important events were happening and knew many of thegreat figures of the age. As his uncle's secretary, he weatheredOld Hickory's tumultuous presidency, including the notorious"Petticoat War." Building his own political career, he served as USchargé d'affaires to the Republic of Texas, where he struggledagainst an enigmatic President Sam Houston, British and Frenchintrigues, and the threat of war by Mexico, to achieve annexation.As minister to Prussia, Donelson enjoyed a ringside seat to therevolutions of 1848 and the first attempts at German unification. Afirm Unionist in the mold of his uncle, Donelson denounced thesecessionists at the Nashville Convention of 1850. He attempted aseditor of the Washington Union to reunite the Democraticparty, and, when he failed, he was nominated as Millard Fillmore'svice-presidential running mate on the Know-Nothing party ticket in1856. He lived to see the Civil War wreck the Union he loved,devastate his farms, and take the lives of two of his sons "Cover" -- "Title Page" -- "Table of Contents" -- "Acknowledgments" -- "Preface" -- "Prologue: A Pleasant Stop in Memphis" -- "1. New Lives in "that land of promise" (1716-July 1820)" -- "2. Emilyâ#x80;#x94;and a Triumph and a Tragedy (August 1820-December 1828)" -- "3. The Petticoat War (January 1829-August 1831)" -- "4. The Rising Politician (September 1831-December 1835)" -- "5. "Death could not extinguish the light of her spirit" (December 1835-August 1841)" -- "6. Elizabethâ#x80;#x94;and Polk and Texas! (September 1841-August 1844)" -- "7. "The most important mission" (September 1844-March 1845)" -- "8. "Donelson will have the honor of this important deed" (March 1845-July 1845)" -- "9. The Fruits of Annexation (July 1845-February 1848)" -- "10. Marztage (February 1848-November 1849)" -- "11. "If A. J. Donelson does not please the Democratic Party, who can . . . ?" (December 1849-December 1851)" -- "12. An Obstacle to Harmony (December 1851-May 1855)" -- "13. Fillmore and Donelson! (June 1855-November 1856)" -- "14. Bitter Twilight (November 1856-June 1871)" -- "Epilogue: The Family and the Legacy" -- "Illustration Gallery" -- "List of Abbreviations" -- "Notes" -- "Bibliography" Cover Title Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Prologue: A Pleasant Stop in Memphis 1. New Lives in "that land of promise" (1716-July 1820) 2. Emily—and a Triumph and a Tragedy (August 1820-December 1828) 3. The Petticoat War (January 1829-August 1831) 4. The Rising Politician (September 1831-December 1835) 5. "Death could not extinguish the light of her spirit" (December 1835-August 1841) 6. Elizabeth—and Polk and Texas! (September 1841-August 1844) 7. "The most important mission" (September 1844-March 1845) 8. "Donelson will have the honor of this important deed" (March 1845-July 1845) 9. The Fruits of Annexation (July 1845-February 1848) 10. Marztage (February 1848-November 1849) 11. "If A. J. Donelson does not please the Democratic Party, who can . . . ?" (December 1849-December 1851) 12. An Obstacle to Harmony (December 1851-May 1855) 13. Fillmore and Donelson! (June 1855-November 1856) 14. Bitter Twilight (November 1856-June 1871) Epilogue: The Family and the Legacy Illustration Gallery List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index The biography of a background figure who intersected with the prominent politicians and great events of four decades of US politics, his life tracing the Age of Jackson, the European revolutions of 1848, the Sectional Crisis, and the Civil War