Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-02-10
DIR PRESIDENTS.

Inc recent pItsiututidi eieStiou Sah'
our attention to some facts of an hlstor-
ical nature. The first idea of Presi-
dent for the United Colonies was or
ganized by Benjamin Franklin at the
ALBANY convention in 1851. That con-
yention was held for the purpose OF
consolidating the colonies under the
British flag, but the Crown authorities
opposed the scheme and it was aban-
doned. The presidential office was at
ouce created when Congress was held,
but the incumbents were called "Presl-
dents of the Congress" This office
continued until the constitution proyl-
ded President to be elected from the
people. The first of these was George
Washington, who was fifty-seven at the
time of his inauguration. John Adams
the next, was native of Massachusetts,
and was sixty-two at the time OF his IN,
auguration. Jefferson, who succeeded
him, was Yirginian of ftty-eight, and
was sixty-six when he retired from the
presidential chair. Madison, likewise
Virginian, was ffty.seven when elected,
and retired after eight years service,
ranging from 1909 to 1917. Monroe,
also a Virginian, was inaugurated at
the age of titty-nine, and was siXty-sev-
en- when he retired from office, period
extending from 1917 to 1925. John
Quincy Adams, a Massachusetts, man,
was elected at the age of 81, and retired
at 81, having served but one term, which
closed March 4, 1929 Jackson, ma
tive of North Carolina, was 81 when
elected, and retired at 20, having served
eight years, from 1929 to 1887. Van
Buren, was the first native of New ork
State, to enter the presidential Office,
he was 81 when elected and served but
one term, which lasted from 1887 to
1871.
Harrison was native of Virginia,
and was 67 when elected. lie died
after a months service, and Tyler, also
q Virginian, was raised from the Vice
Presidency to take the office thus vaca-
ted. This was the first instance of such
an exigency, and therefore was an i'm
portant experiment. The election OF
Harrison closed the half century OF Ma
tional existence under the convention,
| fiity-two years. having elapsed since
Washington's Inauguration. Polk, the
next President, was Of North Carolina
birth, and was fifty when elected. Ills
successor was General Taylor, native
of Virginia, who was in the Goth year
when inaupurated. His term was closed
by death in 1S49, and Fillmore was
raised from the vice presidency. lie
was Buffalo lawyer, and was at that
tine in his ffty-frst year. Frank
Pierce, the next President, native OF
New Hampshire, was forty eight when
elected, and served but one term, which
closed in 1857. His successor, James
! Buchanan, native OF Pennsylvania,
was the first bachelor induced to this
office which occurred in his siXty-touEth
year. His term closed in 1861, when
! Abraham Lincoln, kentuckian, aged
fftv-one, was inauguratcd. OF his sue
cessors, johnson and Grant, we need
not speak. Cincinnati Gn-ette.
Andrew Jackson was probably also
born in Virginia. His grandfather and
father, having removed from Berkeley
County, the son taking with him an
infant son, then only at his mothers
breast, to North Carolina, which has
given rise to the impression that I'm
drew was born IN that State. But Ma
,jor Bedirger, who knew the family
well, always insisted that .A"d'e"-
though not then named-was born
about mile from his house, and about
5 miles South of Martinsburg, not far
from the road leading from Martinsburg
to the Sulphur Springs. i,