Martin Van Buren

portrait of Martin Van Buren c. late 1850s, by Mathew Brady, Imperial print, salted paper print from glass negative, Provenance from W. H. Lowdermilk & Co., Rare Books, 1418 F Street, Washington, D.C./Metropolitan Museum of Art

Birth Name: Maarten Van Buren

Date of Birth: December 5, 1782

Place of Birth: Kinderhook, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: July 24, 1862

Place of Death: Kinderhook, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: Dutch

Martin Van Buren was an American politician. He served as the eighth President of the United States, from March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1841. He was elected to the position in 1836. He was previously the eighth Vice President of the United States, from March 4, 1833 to March 4, 1837. He was elected to the position in 1832. He was the first U.S. President born after the founding of the U.S.

He received an electoral vote for Vice President of the United States in 1824, was the Democratic Party’s nominee for re-election as President of the United States in 1840, and was the Free Soil Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1848. He was also a candidate for the Democratic Party’s 1844 and 1848 presidential nominations.

President Van Buren was the son of Maria (Hoes/Goes) and Abraham van Buren, both of Dutch descent. His father was a businessperson and militia officer, who had fought in the American Revolution; he was Town Clerk of Kinderhook, New York, where he owned an inn and a tavern. President Van Buren was a maternal half-brother of politician James I. Van Alen, who was a U.S. Representative from New York, from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1809. He was married to Hannah (Hoes) Van Buren, with whom he had five children. Hannah was also from a Dutch community.

President Van Buren is one of two U.S. Presidents with no ancestral roots in the British Isles, along with Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was of German (and Swiss-German) descent, and who was President, from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961. President Van Buren is the only U.S. President for whom English was a second language.

President Van Buren was also a U.S. Senator from New York, from March 4, 1821 to December 20, 1828, the ninth Governor of New York, from January 1, 1829 to March 12, 1829, the U.S. Secretary of State, from March 28, 1829 to May 23, 1831, and a United States Minister to the United Kingdom, from August 8, 1831 to April 4, 1832. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party before 1825, and a member of the Democratic Party from 1828 to 1848.

President Van Buren’s paternal grandfather was Martin/Marten Van Buren (the son of Pieter Martense/Martensen van Buren and Adriaantje/Ariaantje Barentse Meynders/Meindersen). President Van Buren’s grandfather Martin was born in New York. Pieter was born in New York, the son of Dutch parents, Marten Cornelisz/Cornelise Van Buren, who was born in Houten, Utrecht, and Marritje Quackenbush/Quackenbosch, who was likely born in Oestgeest, South Holland. President Van Buren’s great-grandmother Adriaantje was born in the Netherlands, the daughter of Barent Meynders/Meindersen and Itien/Eytje/Ida/Eytie Adriaensen/Barents.

President Van Buren’s paternal grandmother was Dirkje Van Alstyne (the daughter of Abraham Janse/Jansen/Jan Van Alstyne and Marritje/Maritje Teuwisse/Tewisse Van Deusen/Van Deursen). Dirkje was born in New York. Abraham was born in Meppel, Drenthe, Netherlands, the son of Jan Martense/Martens Van Alstyne and Dircken/Dirckje/Derckien Hermanse/Hermens. Marritje was the daughter of Matthew/Teuwis/Mattheus/Matheeus Abramse/Abrahamsen Van Deusen/Van Deursen, who was born in the Netherlands, and of Helena Robberts, who was also of Dutch descent.

President Van Buren’s maternal grandfather was Johannes Dircksen Hoes/Goes (the son of Dirk/Dirck Janse/Jansz Hoes/Goes and Elizabeth/Lyhetje Luykasse Wyngaart). Johannes was born in New York. Dirk was the son of Jan Tyssen/Tyseen Hoes/Goes and Christynje/Christyntje/Styntje Janse Van Hoesen/Vanhoesen, whose father was born in Husum, Schleswig-Holstein. Elizabeth was the daughter of Luykas Gerritsen Wyngaart and Anna Janse Van Hoesenm, whose father was also born in Husum.

President Van Buren’s maternal grandmother was Jannetje Laurense Van Schaack/Van Schaick (the daughter of Laurens Claase Van Schaack/Schaick and Jannetje Oothout/Van Voothout). President Van Buren’s grandmother Jannetje was born in New York. Laurens was the son of Claes Laurenszen Van Schaack/Claas Gerritse Van Schaick and Jannetje Cornelis. President Van Buren’s great-grandmother Jannetje was the daughter of Jan Janse Oothout and Hendrickje Cornelisse/Cornellissen Van Ness.

President Van Buren’s matrilineal line can be traced to Annetje Jans, who was born, c. 1577, in Lexmond, Zederik, South Holland, Netherlands.

Sources: Genealogies of President Van Buren – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://famouskin.com