Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the eighth president of the United States. An ambitious and cunning man whose political tricks earned him the nickname 'the Little Magician', Van Buren was a talented organizer, establishing such political machines as the Albany Regency in New York and the Democratic Party on a national level. The handpicked successor of Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), Van Buren fared less well in his presidency than his illustrious predecessor; his single term was marred by the Panic of 1837, which contributed to his loss in 1840. After two more failed presidential bids, Van Buren died in 1862 at the age of 79.