VAN BUREN,Martin (1782–1862), eighth president ofthe United States, was the son of a small farmer, and wasborn 5th December 1782 at Kinderhook, Columbia, NewYork State, on the banks of the Hudson. He was educatedat the village school, and, entering on the study of law atthe age of fourteen, was called to the bar in 1803. Possessingin addition to his other abilities a peculiar power ofwinning personal trust and influence, his rise both in hisprofession and political reputation was rapid. In 1808 hewas chosen surrogate of Columbia county, and in 1812 amember of the State legislature. From 1815 to 1819 hewas attorney-general of the State, and during this periodcame to be recognized as the ruling spirit of the newDemocratic school known as the Albany regency. In 1821 hewas chosen to the United States senate and the same yearwas elected a member of the convention for revising theState constitution, in which, though advocating an extensionof the franchise, he opposed universal suffrage. In 1828he was appointed governor of New York State. FromMarch 1829 to April 1831 he was secretary of state in theadministration of President Jackson, of whom he was thechief political adviser. During the recess he was appointedminister to England; but, on the ground that he hadpreviously shown a too submissive attitude towards thatcountry, and also a tendency to be influenced in his foreignpredilections by home politics, the senate refused to ratifythe appointment. In the following year he was, however,chosen vice-president of the United States, and in 1837he succeeded Jackson as president. He entered uponoffice at the time of a severe commercial crisis (seeUnited States), and, although the methods he adopted to deal withit were in themselves admirable, the financial strain whichexisted during his term of office weakened for a time theinfluence of his party. Besides the establishment of theindependent treasury system, Van Buren's name is associatedwith the pre-emption law giving settlers on public landsthe preference in their purchase. On the expiry of histerm of office he was again, in 1840, nominated for thepresidency, but lost by a large majority. In 1844 a majorityof the delegates to the Democratic convention werepledged to support him, but on account of his oppositionto the annexation of Texas they allowed a motion to beintroduced making a two-thirds vote necessary for nomination.This he failed to obtain and his name waswithdrawn. In 1848 he was nominated by the anti-slaverysection of his party, but the split caused the defeat ofboth Democratic candidates. The remainder of his lifewas spent chiefly in retirement on his estate at Kinderhook.In 1853-55 he went on a European tour. He died atKinderhook, 24th July 1862. HisInquiry into the Origin and Course of Political Parties in the United States waspublished by his sons in 1867.