Sarah Yorke Jackson
Sarah Jackson | |
---|---|
Acting First Lady of the United States | |
In role November 26, 1834 – March 4, 1837 | |
President | Andrew Jackson |
Preceded by | Emily Donelson (acting) |
Succeeded by | Angelica Van Buren (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | Sarah Yorke July 1805 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | August 23, 1887 (aged 82) The Hermitage, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Spouse |
Andrew Jackson Jr.
(m. 1831; died 1865) |
Children | 5 |
Relatives | Andrew Jackson (father-in-law) |
Sarah Jackson (
Early life
Sarah Yorke was born in July 1805, in
Sarah Yorke married Andrew Jackson, Jr., the adopted son of President Andrew Jackson, in Philadelphia on November 24, 1831.[1][5] The president's schedule prevented him from attending the wedding, but the couple was invited to stay at the White House over the following months.[2][3] Their stay in the White House served as an extended honeymoon,[1] and several parties were held in their honor.[2] She bonded with the president, who considered her to be like a daughter.[3] There was speculation as to whether she would become the new White House hostess, but the role remained with the president's niece, Emily Donelson.[4]
Upon leaving the White House, the new couple went to
Their stay at the Hermitage was interrupted on October 13, 1834, when a fire destroyed much of the main house.[6]: 278 They found a home to stay in at Hunter's Hill, but the incident had a severe emotional effect on Jackson.[6]: 279 As winter approached, they decided it would be preferable to stay at the White House.[6]: 280
White House hostess
The family arrived at the White House on November 26, 1834,[6]: 281 and Jackson made extensive purchases to replace their lost belongings at the president's expense.[6]: 282 Jackson immediately began to take on the role as co-hostess of the White House along with Donelson. It was the only time in history when there were two women simultaneously acting as White House hostess.[5] As Donelson became seriously ill, Jackson become the White House hostess in its entire capacity in October 1836. She remained the sole hostess for the remainder of her father-in-law's presidency.[7]
Jackson was not terribly active as a hostess. The death of Rachel Jackson had limited any significant social activity in the White House, and this was compounded by the death of Emily Donelson.[8] She remained at the White House for the final ten months of President Jackson's term,[2] though she made several lengthy trips, including one to the Hermitage to oversee its reconstruction.[1] The family left the White House when President Jackson's term ended in March 1837.[7]
Later life and legacy
Jackson continued to oversee the Hermitage after leaving the White House.[9] She remained close to the former president and cared for him for the remainder of his life.[6]: 220–221 In 1838, she assisted him in his crisis of faith that led him to join her in the Presbyterian Church—something that he had considered doing even before his presidency.[6]: 339–341 Upon his death, the former president left her four of his female slaves.[6]: 347 The family sold the Hermitage to the state of Tennessee in 1856, but Sarah Jackson was allowed to continue living there for the remainder of her life.[2] Her sons fought with the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, and her son Samuel died during the Battle of Chickamauga. Her husband died in 1867.[10][11] Sarah Yorke Jackson died on August 23, 1887, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 82.[1]
Jackson had little influence on the position of first lady, as her short tenure and the social circumstances of the Andrew Jackson presidency offered her little opportunity to stand out.[5][8] By the time she reached old age, she had largely been forgotten by the American public,[10][11] and she has since been the subject of very little scholarly analysis.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "First Lady Biography: Rachel Jackson". National First Ladies' Library. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-118-73218-2.
- ^ JSTOR 42621045.
- ^ ISBN 9780826521651.
- ^ a b c "Emily Donelson, Sarah Jackson". Miller Center. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-14-013267-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4766-4285-7.
- ^ S2CID 249333854.
- ISBN 978-1-4381-0815-5.
- ^ a b "Death of Mrs. Sarah Jackson, Wife of the Adopted Son of the Old Hero". Memphis Avalanche. August 24, 1887. p. 1.
- ^ a b "The Link Broken Which United the Living and Dead Dwellers at the Hermitage". The Chattanooga Commercial. August 24, 1887. p. 4.