Andrew Johnson
1865 - 1869
17th President

Andrew was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 29, 1808.

Andrew Johnson's father died when Andrew was three years old.

He was one of two or three Presidents born in North Carolina. (Historians aren't sure if Andrew Jackson was born in North or South Carolina.)

He never attended school. He taught himself to read after his friends in a tailor shop taught him the letters of the alphabet. Eliza his future wife also helped him with writing and arithmetic.

Andrew Johnson married Eliza McCardle when he was 18 years and 127 days old. He was the youngest of all President to marry. His wife was 16 years and 213 days old when they were married.

Andrew Johnson had a tailor shop in Greeneville, Tenn.

Andrew's first elected position was as an alderman in Greeneville.

In 1856 Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was the only Senator to keep his Senate seat when the southern states sededed from the Union.

Senator Johnson was the father of the "Homestead Bill." It provided a 160 acres of land in the wes to those who would farm the land for five years.

Johnson served in the Civil War.

There wasn't a war during his term as President.

President Johnson didn't belong to any religion. The only other President to not practice a set religion was Abraham Lincoln who was President when Johnson was Vice President.

Andrew Johnson
Library of Congress

Even though he was a Democrat, he was Vice President to Lincoln who was a Republican.

Andrew Johnson was the first President to have a Queen visit during his term. Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) visited during his term.

He became President when Lincoln was assassinated. President Johnson didn't have a Vice President.

He is one of five Presidents who never ran for the office of President. He was the third President that never had a Vice President.

Johnson was one of four Vice Presidents to take office after an assassination.

Republican Senator Benjamin Wade voted not to convict Johnson though he would have become president if Johnson had been found guilty--Johnson was acquitted by only 1 vote.

President Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only Presidents to ever be impeached.

Andrew Johnson was again elected as a U.S. Senator in 1875. He died before he term began.

Andrew Johnson died in Carter County, Tenn. on July 31, 1875. He was 66 years and 214 days old. He is buried

President Johnson was buried wrapped in a U.S. flag and with his well-worn copy of the Constitution under his head.

He is buried in the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tn.

Quick Facts

References:

• The Presidents of the United States. 22 September 2004
• Davis, Gibbs and Ilus. David A. Johnson. Wackiest White House Pets. New York: Scholastic Press, October 2004
• James, Barber and Amy Pastan. Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies. New York: DK Publishing, 2002
• Harnsberger, Caroline Thomas. Treasury of Presidential Quotations. Chicago: Follett Publishing Company, 1964
• Kane, Joseph Natan. Facts about the Presidents from Washington to Johnson. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1964.
• National Park Service Web Site on Presidential Trivia: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/pres/trivia.htm.

Additional Sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents
http://www.historyplace.com/specials/portraits/presidents/index.html
www.freep.com
http://www.umkc.edu/imc/prestriv.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/4062/trivia.html
http://www.freep.com/news/inaug/trivia/index.htm
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

If you have comments or corrections, please send them to jim@anewadventure.org.