Andrew Jackson

Seventh president, 1829–1837

Andrew Jackson’s life was colored by struggle, conflict, and aggression. The orphan of impoverished immigrants, he was the only American president to have been a prisoner of war or to have killed a man in a duel. After serving as a general in the U.S. military during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, he became a national hero. During Jackson’s presidency, he signed the Indian Removal Act into law, defeated the National Bank through the power of the veto, and threatened to use military force to preserve the Union when South Carolina challenged the federal government. Once viewed as a symbol of the country’s expansive democracy, Jackson is now a controversial figure for his uncompromising nationalism and punitive Indian policies. Thomas Sully only painted Jackson from life on two occasions, but he made many portraits of him. This work was a gift from Jackson to his friend Francis Preston Blair.

7o presidente, 1829–1837

La vida de Andrew Jackson estuvo teñida de pugnas, conflictos y agresiones. Huérfano de inmigrantes pobres, fue el único presidente estadounidense cuyas experiencias incluían ser prisionero de guerra y haber matado a alguien en un duelo. Se convirtió en héroe nacional luego de la batalla de Nueva Orleans, en 1815, donde combatió como general del ejército estadounidense. Durante su presidencia, Jackson firmó la Ley de Traslado Forzoso de los Indios, derrotó al Banco Nacional recurriendo al poder del veto y amenazó con utilizar la fuerza militar para conservar la Unión cuando Carolina del Sur retó la autoridad del gobierno federal. Alguna vez considerado como símbolo de la democracia expansiva del país, Jackson es hoy día una figura polémica debido a su nacionalismo a ultranza y sus políticas punitivas hacia las poblaciones indígenas. Thomas Sully pintó a Jackson del natural solo en dos ocasiones, pero hizo muchos retratos de él. Esta obra fue obsequio de Jackson a su amigo Francis Preston Blair.

Given by Sully to Jackson during Jackson’s presidency; on leaving the White House in 1837, Jackson gave it to his good friend Francis Preston Blair, Sr. It has been passed down in the direct family line from Blair, who was great-great-great grandfather of the current owner.