- **Born:** December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, [[New York]] - **Parents:** Abraham Van Buren (farmer/tavern keeper) and Maria Hoes Van Buren - **Spouse:** Hannah Hoes Van Buren (married 1807, died 1819) - **Children:** Abraham Van Buren (1807-1873), John Van Buren (1810-1866), Martin Van Buren Jr. (1812-1855), Smith Thompson Van Buren (1817-1876) - **Died:** July 24, 1862 (natural causes at age 79) - **Highest Office:** 8th President of the [[United States of America (USA)]] (1837-1841) - **Other Notable Positions:** U.S. Senator from [[New York]] (1821-1828), Governor of [[New York]] (1829), U.S. Secretary of State (1829-1831), U.S. Vice President under [[Andrew Jackson]] (1833-1837) - **Party Affiliation:** Democratic Party - **Historical Note:** First president born as a U.S. citizen rather than a British subject. Key architect of the modern Democratic Party and Jackson's political machine. Presidency dominated by the Panic of 1837 economic depression. Later opposed slavery expansion and ran for president again in 1848 on the Free Soil Party ticket.