Abraham Van Buren II (November 27, 1807 – March 15, 1873) was the eldest son of Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States and his wife,

Hannah Hoes Van Buren #REDIRECT Martin Van Buren#Early life and education 18th-century American women 19th-century American women 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis 1783 births 1819 deaths American people of Dutch descent American political hostesses Tub ...

. A career soldier and veteran of the

Second Seminole War The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between the United States and groups collectively known as Seminoles, consisting of Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans and ...

and Mexican–American War, Van Buren was named in honor of his paternal grandfather Abraham Van Buren (I), an officer in the Albany County militia during the Revolutionary War. Van Buren served as his father's private secretary during his father's presidential term. In his later years, he helped oversee management of his wife's South Carolina plantation and traveled extensively in Europe.

Early life

Abraham Van Buren II was born in Kinderhook, New York on November 27, 1807, the eldest son of Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) and Hannah Hoes (1783–1819). Van Buren was educated in Kinderhook and attended Greenville Academy. At age 15, Van Buren began attendance at the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1827, ranked 37th of 38. Van Buren received his commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

of Infantry.

Career

Early career

After receiving his commission, Van Buren served with the 2nd Infantry Regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and Fort Dearborn, Illinois from 1827 to 1829. From 1829 to 1836 he served as aide-de-camp to Alexander Macomb, Commanding General of the United States Army. In 1833, Van Buren received promotion to first lieutenant. In July 1836, Van Buren was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the 1st Dragoon Regiment. He served with his regiment in Florida during the

White House

On March 3, 1837, Van Buren resigned his commission so he could he could become the president's private secretary after his father was inaugurated on March 4. He remained in this position until the end of his father's term in March 1841. Van Buren's time in the White House ended after his father was defeated by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election. Van Buren and his wife Angelica left Washington in March 1841 and visited with Angelica's family in

Sumter, South Carolina Sumter ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Known as the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area, the namesake county adjoins Clarendon and Lee to form the core of Sumter-Lee-Clarendon Tri-county (o ...

, where Angelica gave birth to their son Singleton.

Return to Army

At the outbreak of the Mexican–American War in June 1846, Van Buren was reappointed in the army as a paymaster with the rank of

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

. Van Buren served as an aide to Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott and took part in the

Battle of Contreras The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place on 19–20 August 1847, in one of the final encounters of the Mexican–American War, as invading U.S. forces under Winfield Scott approached the Mexican capital. Americ ...

, Battle of Monterrey, Siege of Veracruz, Battle of Cerro Gordo, and

Battle of Churubusco The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, while Santa Anna's army was in retreat from the Battle of Contreras or Battle of Padierna during the Mexican–American War. It was the battle where the San Patricio Battalion, made up ...

. In August 1847, Van Buren was promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

to recognize his gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Contreras and

Churubusco Churubusco is a neighbourhood of Mexico City. Under the current territorial division of the Mexican Federal District, it is a part of the borough ''(delegación)'' of Coyoacán. It is centred on the former Franciscan monastery ''(ex convento de C ...

. Van Buren was an original member of the

Aztec Club of 1847 The Aztec Club of 1847 is a military society founded in 1847 by United States Army officers of the Mexican–American War. It exists as a hereditary organization including members who can trace a direct lineal connection to those originally eligib ...

. After Mexico's surrender, Scott appointed Van Buren as the military representative empowered to discuss peace terms with Mexican authorities. Van Buren joined American diplomat Nicholas Trist in the subsequent talks, which ended when Trist obtained Mexico's agreement to the settlement that was later ratified as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Following his return to the United States, Van Buren aided Scott to prepare a defense of Scott's wartime conduct for a court of inquiry. He also gave testimony on Scott's behalf and the inquiry resulted in Scott's exoneration.

Later career

After his Mexican War service, Van Buren and his family settled in New York City. He suffered two strokes soon after relocating, and never completely regained his abilities to walk and speak. He continued to serve as an army paymaster until resigning in 1854. In retirement, he oversaw management of his wife's South Carolina plantation prior to the American Civil War and traveled extensively in Europe. In 1859, Van Buren sold his wife's plantation on her behalf, receiving $147,000 (nearly $5.5 million in 2021) for the 210 slaves purchased by a plantation owner from Arkansas. In spite of his absence while serving in the military, Van Buren was still close to his father. His wife and he enjoyed extended stays at the former president's

Lindenwald Martin Van Buren National Historic Site is a unit of the United States National Park Service in Columbia County, New York, south of the village of Kinderhook, north of New York City and south of Albany. The National Historic Site preserv ...

estate and spent winters in South Carolina.

Personal life

Family

In 1838, Dolley Madison, widow of former President James Madison, introduced Van Buren to her cousin, Angelica Singleton (1818–1877), at a White House dinner hosted by his father. Singleton was a daughter of a wealthy South Carolina planter, and a refined lady who had been schooled in the fine arts at

Madame Grelaud's French School Madame Grelaud's French School, also called Madame Grelaud's Seminary, was a boarding school for girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which ran from approximately 1809–1849. Many prominent northerners and southerners sent their daughters to such in ...

in Philadelphia. Van Buren fell in love with her and the two were married at Colonel Richard Singleton's Wedgefield, South Carolina plantation named "Home Place". The President was unable to attend the couple's wedding; however, he was delighted with the match. The newlyweds honeymooned in London. Upon returning to the United States, Angelica assumed the duties of "White House Hostess" because her mother-in-law had died in 1819 and Martin Van Buren had not remarried. The couple had four children. * Rebecca Van Buren (1840–1840), died young * Singleton Van Buren (1841–1885) * Martin Van Buren II (1844–1885) * Travis Coles Van Buren (1848–1889)

Death and burial

Van Buren died in New York City on March 15, 1873. He was buried alongside his wife at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

Dates of rank

Van Buren's effective dates of rank were: * Second Lieutenant of Infantry (Brevet) – July 1, 1827 * Second Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry – July 1, 1827 * First Lieutenant, 1st Dragoons – March 4, 1833 * Captain, 1st Dragoons – July 4, 1836 * Resigned – March 3, 1837 * Major, Pay Department – June 26, 1846 * Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet) – August 20, 1847 * Resigned – June 1, 1854

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buren, Abraham 1807 births 1873 deaths American military personnel of the Mexican–American War American people of Dutch descent American planters Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York) Children of presidents of the United States Children of vice presidents of the United States Martin Van Buren Members of the Aztec Club of 1847 People from Kinderhook, New York Personal secretaries to the President of the United States Secretaries United States Army paymasters United States Military Academy alumni Abraham 1807