Introductory Remarks-Birth of Mr. Jackson-His parentage-War of the Revolution-He engages in the war-Is taken prisoner-Resists the command of a British officer-Mrs. Jackson-Her virtues— Her death-Mr. Jackson an orphan-Studies lawAdmitted to the bar-Removes to the South West Territory-Appointed Attorney General-Member of the Tennessee Convention-A representative in Congress-A senator in Congress-Judge of the Supreme Court-Burr's conspiracy-Charges against him refuted.
WHENEVER an individual, by the force of his own peculiar talents and energy, has raised himself from obscurity to the highest attainable summit of earthly distinction, a curiosity, very natural in itself, is engendered, to learn something of his early history; to trace the first workings of a mind, whose conceptions have laid the foundation, and whose perseverance has raised before the admiring gaze of the world, a monument of undying fame. This indulgence often proves unsatisfactory, as instances are numerous of men whose maturity has developed powers that have commanded the admiration of the world, who, in early life, gave no indication of future greatness. The province of the biographer, however, in commencing the life of his subject, is always the same, whether the early years of his hero were rife with spirit-stirring indi