Brief Biographies from the Jackson/Van Buren Era (C):

Cabet, Etian 1788 - 1856:

Cabor, George 1752 - 1823:

Cain, Richard Harvey 1825 - 1887:

Calhoun, John 1806 - 1859:

Calhoun, John Caldwell (1782 - 1850):

Graduate of Yale (1804), and student at Tapping Reeve's "law school" in Litchfield, CT.

Calhoun was the only man to be Vice President under two different presidents of violently opposing tendencies. When he was elected to serve under John Quincy Adams, he was disgusted at the way Adams was put into the presidency by the House of Representatives against the evident will of the electorate. He soon joined in a coalition, involving Martin Van Buren, and Andrew Jackson, to replace Adams with Jackson at the next elections.

Calhoun had been, up to this time, a strong nationalist; i.e. in the context of the time, one who favored the United States functioning as one nation, rather than 23 states that had made a compact with one another. In the House of Representatives, from 1811-17, he had joined Henry Clay as a "War Hawk", calling for America's going to war with Great Britain, which was controlling the seas and impressing men off of American vessels, and suppressing much of America's overseas trade. At the same time, many hoped to use the war to expand the American borders. Others thought going to war with Britain was foolhardy; and indeed the war did result in some catastrophes for the U.S., like the burning of the Capitol building and the White House. In the House, and as Secretary of War from 1817-25, Calhoun was a proponent of national projects - especially the building of a great transportation network, which would make the country stronger economically and militarily.

In the late 1820s and early 1830s, Calhoun's state of South Carolina became increasingly opposed to national projects, especially the tariff (tax on imports), and any project, such as roadbuilding, which spent federal money, and hence could prolong the life of the tariff.

Calhoun, persuaded to this viewpoint, gave a theoretical justification in terms of constitutional law, for South Carolina refusing to pay the tariff. He and others hoped that if South Carolinians voted a proclamation nullifying the tariff law, and stuck to their guns, they would establish a precedent by which, in the future, the constitution would be interpreted, making it always possible, if state feelings were strong enough (in terms of votes), for a state to decline to follow a federal law (the nullifying state could be overruled by a constitutional amendment).

The first congress held under the Jackson administration was presented with a document from South Carolina, protesting a recently passed strongly protectionist tariff, and threatening that the state might well take action to nullify it, and hinting at seccession if the Federal government should attempt to enforce the tariff.

In those days, the Vice President was actual as well as figurative head of the Senate, and acted as chairman directing the debate there. About a month into that session of Congress, in late January, the famous Webster-Hayne debate took place under Calhoun's nose, with Webster sometimes directing insinuations at Calhoun, the anonymous author of that Exposition and Protest.

It seems that Robert Y. Hayne, a South Carolina, and one of the presenters of the protest, had stood up to declare a common cause with discontented westerners, represented by Thomas Hart Benton, who were protesting the high price ($1.25 per acre) of lands which the federal government held in all the westernmost states. Various westerners wanted to have the price drastically lowered, or the federal lands to all be given to the states containing the lands. Daniel Webster heard this speech, made a reply which (seemingly gratuitously ) severely attached nullification. Hayne replied, giving for the first time a clear outspoken defense of nullification in congress, and Webster then made a strong patriotic anti-nullification speech that was quite famous in the next few decades.

In late 1832, following the reelection of Andrew Jackson, nullification was put to the test. Some strategic shufflings of position took place among the South Carolinians; most notably Calhoun, by now thorougly at odds with Jackson and having nothing to lose, resigned the Vice Presidency a few months early, and was elected to the Senate (by the SC legislature - state legislatures always elected Senators until 1913 - see 17th Amemdment). He went to Washington with some fear of being hung as a traitor, but was not, and while the federal forces and the South Carolina Military performed threatening maneuvers, Henry Clay proposed a face-saving "compromise" tariff, which was favored by southerners mostly because it was not the compromise proposal that Jackson was backing. South Carolina then agreed not to nullify the new tariff, but they voted to nullify the "Force Bill", which Jackson had gotten passed to demonstrate his mandate against South Carolina; Jackson, of course, had no intention of using the force bill once SC agreed to live with the tariff.

Calhoun briefly joined the Whig party, initially a catch-all for all anti-Jacksonians, but as the Whig party became more of a nationalist, pro-internal improvements party, and Jackson faded out of the picture, he went back to the democrats. He became more and more of an outspoken defender of slavery, and denounced any infringement against slavery, or other southern concerns, as a threat to the Union. He died just after a speech was delivered on his behalf, in the very heated 1850 debates over the slave or non-slave status of new territories, mostly acquired in the Mexican-American war.

Calkins, Norman Allison 1822 - 1895:

Cambreleng, Churchill C.

Accompanied Van Buren on his tour of the South in spring 1827;part of Van Buren's building of the Democratic party, and strengthening of the old North-South alliance (James Hamilton Jr and William Drayton - two South Carolinians also accompanied them).

Connected with the sending off of Louis McLane, in summer, 1829,on the latter's successful trip as ambassador to England. McLane's main mission was to open up trade between the U.S. and the Brittish West Indies. One of the possible tactics for accomplishing this would have been to unilaterally lower tariffs, benefitting Brittish shipping and manufacturing interests. Cambreling was lobbying to tie to West Indies trade mission to lower tariffs.

"Short, stocky, earthy, and cynical, he expected the worst of human beings and loved to report the latest gossip to eager listeners such as Van Buren"

(source: Cole, MVB..., p93, 152 for Cambreling and VB's tour of South)

Cameron, Simon 1799 - 1889:

Camman, George Philip 1804 - 1863:

Campbell, Alexander (June 1786 - March 4, 1866):

Born in County Antrim Ireland, he came to the U.S. in 1809; settled first in Washington, PA., then pastor of church in Brush Run, PA. From 1813-27 he was an itinerant evangelist with no affiliation.

From 1827 (Harper's Ency.)or 1830 (Feller, Promise). Click here <== if you wish to point me to good sources on this or related matters.

Sources:Webster's Biog., Harper's Ency., Feller, Promise.

Campbell, George Washington 1769 - 1848:

Campbell, James 1812-1893:

Campbell, Rev. John M. ? - ?

Canby, Edwin Richard Sprigg 1817 - 1873:

Cannon, George Quale 1829 - 1901:

Cannon, Harriet Starr 1823 - 1896:

Capron, Horace 1804 - 1885:

Cardozo, Jacob Newton 1786 - 1873:

Carey, Henry Charles 1793 - 1879:

Carey, Mathew 1760 - 1839:

Born in Dublin, Ireland and became an anti-British newspaper editor there. Fled to the U.S. where he settled in Philadelphia, founded the Pennsylvania Herald in 1785, and the Columbian Magazine in 1786. He became a very prominent publisher, and a well-known advocate of the "American System", of federally-backed internal improvements and protective tariffs on manufactured goods, to build up the U.S. as a manufacturing nation with a strong internal commerce.

In late 1814, at the low point for the U.S., of the War of 1812, he published the Olive Branch, aimed at stiffening American resolve, and reconciling the Federalists who had mostly opposed it, and the Republicans (Jeffersonians) who had prosecuted the war (though they obstructed earlier defensive measures). The book was praised by Thomas Jefferson, and quoted by Robert Y. Hayne (in an attack on the Federalists) in his famous Senate debate with Daniel Webster.

Carlile, John Snyder 1817 - 1878:

Carlile, Richard 1790 - 1843:

Carlyle, Thomas (1795 - 1881):

He met Emerson in 1833, before the latter was well known, and they corresponded thereafter. Emerson helped get some of Carlyle's books published in America.

Carlyle served the American Transcendentalists as an interpretor of Goethe, who did much to promote the basic concepts, and Kant.

His most famous works are a history of the French Revolution, and Sartor Sartoris (The Tailor Retailored), an autobiographical writing which discusses many creeds and systems of philosophy.

Carney, Julia (Maiden Name Fletcher) 1823 - 1908:

Carr, Benjamin 1769 - 1831:

Carroll, Charles 1737 - 1832:

Carroll, John 1735 - 1815:

Carson, Christopher (Or "Kit") 1809 - 1868:

Carter, James Gordon 1795 - 1849:

Cartwright, Peter (1785 - 1872):

He wrote a fascinating autobiography about his circuit riding and tent-revival days, also detailing the conferences which held together and drove the Methodist church as a powerful force for building up religion on the early frontier.

He was defeated for congress by Abraham Lincoln in 1846, the only time that the latter was sent to the capitol before his presidency. It is hard to picture this episode from Cartwright's point of view as he does not mention it in his Autobiography. Any comments or pointers? <== Click here to send mail.

Cary, Alice 1820 - 1871:

Cary, Phoebe 1824 - 1871:

Case, Leonard 1820 - 1880:

Casey, Joseph 1814 - 1879:

Cass, Lewis 1782 - 1866:

Cassin, John 1813 - 1869:

Celeste, Of ("Madam Celeste") 1815 - 1882:

Chadbourne, Paul Ansel 1823 - 1883:

CHAMBERS, Ezekiel Forman, 1788-1867

Born in Chestertown, Md., February 28, 1788; was graduated from Washington College at Chestertown in 1805; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1808 and commenced practice in Chestertown, Md.; served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of brigadier general; member, State senate 1822; elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edward Lloyd; reelected in 1831 and served from January 24, 1826, until his resignation on December 20, 1834; chairman, Committee on District of Columbia (Twenty-first through Twenty-third Congresses); presiding judge of the second judicial circuit of Maryland and judge of the court of appeals 1834-1851; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor in 1864; died in Chestertown, Md., January 30, 1867; interment in Chester Cemetery.

Source: Biog Dir of Congress, which cites DAB.

Chambers, Robert 1802 - 1871:

Chandler, Zachariah 1813-1879:

Chang And Eng 1811 - 1874:

Channing, Walter 1786-1876:

Channing, William Ellery 1780 - 1842:

Channing, William Ellery 1818 - 1901:

After early education at Round Hill School and the Boston Latin School, he was enrolled in Harvard in 1834, but ran away after a few months to write poetry at Curzon's Mill (upriver from Newburyport).

Lived in Concord most of his later life; married Ellen Fuller, the younger sister of Margaret Fuller; wrote for a while for Horace Greeley's Tribune; a devoted friend of Henry David Thoreau, and Thoreau's first biographer.

Channing, William Henry 1810-1884:

Graduated Harvard in 1829, and the Harvard Divinity School in 1833.

Had a Unitarian pastorate in Cincinnati from 1838-1841 (He resigned after becoming convinced that the Gospels were unreliable as history, and Christianity not ordained by God).

Edited the Western Messenger from June 1839-March 1841.

Chapin, Chester William 1798 - 1883:

Chapman, John ("Johnny Appleseed") 1775 - 1847:

Chapman, John Gadsby 1808 - 1889:

Chapman, Maria Weston July 24, 1806 - July 12, 1885:

Born Weymouth, MA; grew up on a farm; spent several years in England with a relative, a banker with Baring Bros. Returned to U.S. in 1828 and from then until 10/6/30 (when she married Henry Grafton Chapman, a successful young Boston merchant) served as principal of Ebenezer Bailey's Young Lady's High School.

She served as secretary of Garrison's New England Anti-slavery Society, and helped edit The Liberator. She was tall, beautiful, and had an formidable quality.

Chapman, Nathaniel 1780 - 1853:

Chase, Philander 1775 - 1852:

Some notes on his life are in Jacksonian Miscellanies, #49. See also references for Salmon P. Chase.

Chase, Salmon Portland 1808 - 1873:

His father died when he was 9, and he shortly afterwards went to live for three years with his uncle, Philander Chase.

Sources: Blue, Chase; Niven, Chase.

Chauncey, Isaac 1772 - 1840:

Chauvenet, William 1820 - 1870:

Cheney, Edna Dow Littlehale 1824 - 1904:

Cheney, Oren Burbank 1816 - 1903:

Cheney, Seth Wells 1810 - 1856:

Cheney, Ward 1813 - 1876:

Chester, Joseph Lemuel 1821 - 1882:

Cheves, Langdon 1776 - 1857:

He also served in the House of Representatives from 1810-15, during the last two years of which he replaced Henry Clay as Speaker of the House when the latter departed for Europe. He was also a moderating voice in South Carolina politics during the years of the Nullification Crisis.

Child, Francis James 1825 - 1896:

Child, Lydia Marie Francis 1802 - 1880:

CHILTON, Thomas, 1798-1854

Bibliography

Hannum, Sharon Elaine. ?Thomas Chilton-Lawyer, Politician, Preacher.? Filson Club Historical Quarterly 38 (April 1964): 97-114.

Source of above: Biog. Dir. of Am. Congress.

According to David Crockett's biography The Frontiersman by Mark Derr (p147-8), Chilton also "wrote many of Crockett's speeches and formal, circular letters back to his constituents [and] was also the ghostwriter for his autobiography", and there were those back home who thought Crockett was being manipulated. They roomed together at Mrs Ball's, and followed "exactly the same electoral path", serving from 1827-31 as Jacksonians, suffering defeat, and returning as anti-Jacksonians in 1833. He was supposed to have been a "physical giant", morally rigid, and constantly orating on the need for "reform and retrenchment".

Chitty, Joseph 1776 - 1841:

Chivers, Thomas Holley 1809 - 1858:

Choate, Rufus 1799 - 1859:

Choteau, Jean Pierre 1758 - 1849:

Chouteau, Rene August 1749 - 1829:

Christophe, Henri 1767 - 1820:

Church, Frederick Edwin 1826 - 1900:

Church, William, (?):

CLAIBORNE, John Francis Hamtramck 1809-1884

Bibliography

DAB; Williams, Frederich D. ?The Career of J.F.H. Claiborne, States? Rights Unionist.? Ph.D. dissertation, Indiana University, 1953.

Source: Biog. Dir. of Am. Congress.

CLAIBORNE, Nathaniel Herbert 1777-1859

Source: Biog. Dir. of Am. Congress.

Claiborne, William Charles Coles 1775 - 1817:

Bibliography

DAB; Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. Lafayette: University of Southwest Louisiana Press, 1976; Winters, John D. ?William C.C. Claiborne: Profile of a Democrat.? Louisiana History 10 (Summer 1969): 189-210.

Source: Biog. Dir. of Am. Congress:

I believe current work on WCCC is being done by Marion Winship.

Clairmont, Clara Mary Jane 1798 - 1879:

Clark, Alvan 1804 - 1887:

Clark, Lewis Gaylord 1808 - 1873:

One of the founders of the Century Club, and a very popular character in New York society.

Clark, Willis Gaylord 1808 - 1841:

Contributed a witty column called "Ollapodianna" to the Knickerbocker.

Both he and his wife died at an early age of consumption.

Clark, William 1770 - 1838:

Clarke, James Freeman 1810 - 1888:

Clarke, McDonald 1798 - 1842:

Claudet, Antoine Francios Jean 1797 - 1867:

Clay, Cassius Marcellus 1810 - 1903:

Clay, Henry (April 12, 1777 - June 29, 1852):

His real prominence began in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was almost immediately made Speaker of the House. This strange occurrence had something to do with his outspokenness and leadership in promoting war with Great Britain on the eve of the War of 1812, and the reluctance of representatives with more seniority to pit themselves against the brilliant, domineering, and half mad John Randolph, an Anglophile and strong opponent of the movement to declare war. The majority faction wanted war, put Clay in the speakership, and were not disappointed with the results.

Clay resigned the Senate in January 1814, and was appointed to help negotiate peace with Britain, along with John Quincy Adams and Abert Gallatin. He played for high stakes in the negotiations, holding out for more than some of his partners thought feasible, successfully.

He served in the House of Representatives again from March 5, 1815 to March 3, 1821, and again from March 3, 1823 to March 6, 1825, being elected to the speakership again during most of both of these intervals. In 1820 Clay, with some dazzling political footwork, forced got the congress to ratify the "Missouri Compromise", allowing Missouri into the Union as a slave state, which many of the north were dead-set against, while also adding one northern state (Maine, by splitting off, from Massachusetts) which preserved the ballance in the Senate. The package also included the agreement not to admit any more slave states west of Missouri above an extension of the Mason-Dixon line.

He campaigned for the presidency in 1824 in a four way race with John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and William H. Crawford. Receiving the smallest number of electoral votes, he did much to strong-arm the House of Representatives into voting for Adams. Adams then selected Clay as his Secretary of State. In the barely established political traditions of the United States, this office was then viewed as a stepping stone to the presidency.

This was, in terms of hopes for the presidency, Clay's undoing. Though he probably did what his judgement said was right for the country, he was very high handed about it. It seems certain that Jackson would have won in any two man election among the candidates of that year, and Clay's state of Kentucky certainly wouldn't have made Adams their second choice, though Clay delivered their vote to Adams anyway. Many saw it as an act of corruption, for which "bargain" and "coalition" became code words. He had, for one thing, run quite a slashing anti-Adams campaign himself. At any rate, Jackson labeled him the "Judas of the West", and reiterated that charge through the 1828 election against Adams, and the 1832 election against Clay himself, both of which Jackson won.

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MUCH MORE TO BE ADDED LATER.

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Clayton, John Middleton 1796 - 1856:

Cleaveland, Parker 1780 - 1858:

Clemens, Samuel Langhorne 1835 - 1910:

Clemson, Thomas Green 1807 - 1888:

Clerc, Laurent 1785 - 1869:

Clevinger, Shobal Vail 1812 - 1843:

Clifford, Nathan 1803 - 1881:

Clinton, De Witt (Mar. 2, 1769 - Feb. 11, 1828):

Also governor of New York State 1817-1822 and 1824-27.

mayor of New York City 1803-7, 1809-10 and 1811-14, candidate for president in 1812, founder and one of the first presidents of the Literary and Philosophical Society in New York.

Though allied for a very short period, he and Martin Van Buren became bitter rivals; yet they often agreed in principal. Van Buren, unlike some of his colleagues, eventually threw his support strongly in favor of the canal. Probably Van Buren saw him as some kind of aristocrat, and symbol of the old personality politics; and as a man who ill-served his friends.

Van Buren and Clinton both supported Andrew Jackson, which Van Buren saw as a problem; i.e. who was going to be seen as senior statesman of New York, and as deliverer of the votes to Jackson (and receiver of the rewards of doing so). His death, early in the election year of 1828 left Van Buren free to redouble his efforts for Jackson, with the full expectation of being handsomely rewarded.

Born in Little Britain, Orange County NY.

Clymer, George E. 1754 - 1834:

Cobb, Howell 1815 - 1868:

Cobden, Richard 1804 - 1865:

Coffee, John ? - 1833:

Andrew Jackson's close friend, one time business partner, and, in the War of 1812, cavalry officer.

Coffin, Capt. Abel 1790 - 1837

Coffin, George:

Member of a large and prominent Quaker family of Nantucket.

Coffin, Reuben:

Member of a large and prominent Quaker family of Nantucket.

Coffin, William C.:

Member of a large and prominent Quaker family of Nantucket.

Cogswell, Joseph Green 1786 - 1871:

Coke, Sir Edward 1552 - 1634:

Colburn, Warren 1793 - 1833:

Colby, Gardner 1810 - 1879:

Cole, Thomas 1801 - 1848:

Coleman, William Tell 1824 - 1893:

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor 1772 - 1834:

Coles, Abraham 1813 - 1891:

Colfax, Schuyler 1823 - 1885:

Colgate, William 1783 - 1857:

Collamer, Jacob 1791 - 1865:

Collins, John A. ? - ?:

Collyer, Robert 1823 - 1912:

Colt, Samuel 1814 - 1862:

Colton, Gardner Quincy 1814 - 1898:

Colton, Walter 1797 - 1851:

Combe, George 1788 - 1858:

Comstock, Henry Tompkins Paige 1820 - 1870:

Conant, Hannah O'Brien 1809 - 1865:

Conant, Thomas Jefferson 1802 - 1891:

Cone, Spencer Houghton 1785 - 1855:

Considerant, Victor Prosper 1809 - 1893:

Conway, Moncure Daniel 1832 - 1907:

Cooke, John Easton 1830 - 1886:

Cooke, Josiah Parsons 1827 - 1848:

Cooper, James Fenimore 1789 - 1851: A novelist, extremely popular in his day, and still popular today. After an education at Yale from 1803-5, and spending several of his youthful years in the U.S. navy (until 1811). Though indendently wealthy, he started to write in 1820, achieved success with The Spy in 1821, The Pioneers in 1823, and many more of the Leatherstocking series, of which the most famous was The Last of the Mohicans. Born in Burlington, NJ. His father was a pioneer entrepreneur in western NY state, for whom Cooperstown is named.

Cooke, Philip Pendleton 1816 - 1850:

Cooper, James Fenimore 1789 - 1851:

Cooper, Peter 1791 - 1883

After success as a glue manufacturer, he and partners, in 1828 started the Canton Iron Works in Baltimore, MD, where the first American-built locomotive was built. He made numerous inventions, flourished as a manufacturer.

He founded or endowed the Cooper Union (or Institute) in New York City, which provided free adult education courses in science, technology and art, where Lincoln gave a speech in 1860 that did much to enhance his chances of being nominated for president. Promoted and backed the laying of the transatlantic cable.

In 1876 was a third party (Greenback ticket) candidate for President.

Source: DAB.

Cooper, Thomas 1759 - 1839:

Though in England, he had fought against the slave trade, he became, in South Carolina, a famous advocate of states rights and defender of slavery, forever identified with the phrase "calculate the value of the union". (Source: DAB, May, Enlightenment in America).

Cooper, William 1754 - 1809:

In the late 1780s, he tried his wings as a land entrepreneur, which resulted in the founding of Cooperstown, NY. He tried other land promotions, and unsuccessfully tried to foster a sugar-maple industry. He became a judge, and a mostly behind the scenes politician -- though a congressman from 1795-7 and 1799-1801.

He became very committed to being part of gentile society and the Federalist party, though he often contradicted this with his rough and boisterous ways. He tried, sometimes very effectively, to look after "his people", but also very determinedly tried to tell them how to vote. His business dealings were impulsive and sloppy, resulting in much grief for his partners, family, and the settlers who bought from him.

Short but burly, and impressive looking, with a large head.

He was the model for judge Marmaduke Temple in J.F. Cooper's The Pioneers.

Source: Taylor, William Cooper's Town (which includes pictures of him) and DAB.

Copley, John Singleton (Baron Lyndhurst) 1772 - 1830:

Copley, John Singleton 1738 - 1815:

Corcoran, William Wilson 1798 - 1888:

Corliss. George Henry 1817 - 1888:

Cornell, Ezra 1807 - 1874:

Corwin, Thomas 1794 - 1865:

Coulomb, Charles Augustin De 1736 - 1806:

Cox, Samuel Sullivan 1824 - 1889:

Coxe, Arthur Cleveland 1818 - 1896:

CRAIG, Robert, 1792-1852

Source: Biog. Dir. of Am. Congress.

Cramp, William 1807 - 1879:

Cranch, Christopher Pearse 1813 - 1892:

Cranch, William 1769 - 1855:

Crandall, Prudence 1803 - 1889:

Crawford, Thomas 1813 - 1857:

Crawford, William Harris (Feb 24, 1772 - Sep 15, 1834):

In 1830-31, he helped bring about the alienation between Andrew Jackson, and his first Vice President, John C. Calhoun, by furnishing documentation of (then Secretary of War) Calhoun's call for disciplining of (the then general) Andrew Jackson.

He evidently had great personal charm, and was praised by some as a most generous generous statesman, and called a complete political hack by others.

U.S. Senator 11/7/07 - 3/23/13.

Minister to France 4/3/13 - 4/22/15.

Secretary of War 8/1/15 - ?.

Secretary of the Treasury 10/22/16 - 3/7/25.

Creighton, Edward 1802 - 1874:

Crerar, John 1827 - 1889:

Crittenden, George Bibb 1812 - 1880:

Crittenden, John Jordan 1787 - 1863:

Crittenden, Thomas Leonidas 1819 - 1893:

Crocker, Charles 1822 - 1888:

Crockett, David (1786-1836):

He was a colorful self-promoter, who spoke entertainingly with a kind of rough homespun eloquence. He came to congress representing the squatters and other settlers at the edge of the frontier. He loved hunting, especially bear hunts (bears were hunted for food and fur, and because they preyed on pigs and other farmers' stock). Crocket made bear hunting a part of his public image.

He was a maverick in politics, supporting Andrew Jackson on some issues, but opposing him, sometimes very vocally, on other issues, such as Jackson's massive Indian removals, and the dismantling of the national bank.

In 1831, the Jackson political machine in Tennessee got the "disloyal" Crockett defeated. He came back to Congress in 1833. He was adopted and promoted by the Whig (or anti-Jackson) party, who were glad to have a folksy Tennessean who would sharply criticize Jackson, and who had beaten Jackson's machine in Tennessee with their help.

Some people were even promoting him for the presidency. If Jackson could win the presidency as a rough, plain-spoken "man of the people", despite his large plantation and dozens of slaves, why not a real frontier farmer and bear hunter who only owned a couple of slaves (slaves were not a part of Crocket's public image)? One answer could be that Jackson had led armies, served as state prosecuter and state Supreme Court Judge, and he had a profound natural dignity, whereas Crockett had no executive experience, and could never resist being a clown.

At any rate, Crockett went so far as to write (or take credit for writing) a scurrilous biography of the Democratic contender (and next president) Martin Van Buren. Following his last session in congress, Crockett toured the Northeast, and was greeted by huge (no doubt orchestrated) crowds, and continued to turn out autobiographical writing, with the help of ghost writers.

Shortly thereafter, the Jackson forces managed to defeat his run for reelection to congress, which wiped out any chance of a run for the presidency.

His folk hero status was bolstered by a comic play, in which "Colonel Nimrod Wildfire" was a surrogate for Crockett, "autobiographical" writings, some written with his help and some not, by the "Davy Crockett Almanacs" which were popular for years. Finally, there was his dramatic death trying to defend the indefensible Alamo against Mexican forces in the revolution which the former province of Mexico, Texas, an independent nation (10 years later it became a state).

Early Life:

He served, most notably as a scout, under Andrew Jackson in the war with the Creek Indians, who were loosely allied with the British in the War of 1812.

He became a farmer and community leader in the pioneer settlements of Western Tennessee. He also had various commercial projects such as grain and lumber mills. Once, in true fronteir entrepreneurial style, he collected a gang of laborers to manufacture a huge quantity of barrell staves on the spot in the wilderness, and then build two flatboats to take them a downriver metropolis. The boats smashed up and were lost in Memphis Tennesssee, and according to the story, he wound up in Memphis stark naked, having lost his clothes being pulled through a small hole in the boat's cabin. Characteristically, he seems to have told this story on himself for laughs. He was elected colonel in the local militia, and later sent to the state legislature, from whence he was sent to Congress to become a national figure.

Cropsey, Jaspar Francis 1823 - 1900:

Croswell, Edwin (????)

Crowfield, Christopher:

Cruikshank, George 1792 - 1878:

Cullum, George Washington 1809 - 1892:

Cummins, George David 1822 - 1876:

Cummins, Maria Susanna 1827 - 1866:

Currier, Nathaniel 1813 - 1888:

Curry, Jabez Lamar Monroe 1825-1903:

Curtis, Benjamin Robbins 1809 - 1874:

Curtis, George Ticknor 1812 - 1894:

Curtis, George William 1824 - 1894:

Cushing, Caleb 1800 - 1879:

Cushing, Luther Stearns 1803 - 1856:

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders 1816 - 1876:

Cutter, George Washington 1801 - 1865: