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Van Buren appoints his final Supreme Court Justice
After the sudden death of Supreme Court Justice Philip P. Barbour on February 25th, Van Buren moved quickly to appoint a new Justice before the newly elected Harrison took office. Just two days after the death of Barbour, Van Buren submitted Peter V. Daniels name to the Senate. Because of the quick turnaround, the Richmond Whig, a newspaper of the time, called it a move of "indecent haste." -
Van Buren removes Jesse Hoyt
With four days remaining in his presidency, Van Buren removed Jesse Hoyt from the New York customs office. After Hoyt's nomination by Van Buren in 1838, he proceeded to overdraw his account by $30,000. This resulted in severe embarrasment for Van Buren and in his attempt to save face, relieved Hoyt of his duties. Cole, Donald B. Martin Van Buren And The American Political System. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1984. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 22 Mar. 2016. -
Van Buren leaves office
After a humiliating defeat by Harrison and the Whigs in November of 1940, Van Buren exits the Presidential office for good. Many news outlets celebrated his ousting with headlines such as, "The Country Saved!" and "Van Burenism Lies Prostrate in the Dust." -
Amistad Case
On this day, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defense to set the slaves, who had taken over the slaving ship Amistad in 1839, free. Van Buren sided with the pro-slavery members of his cabinet in an attempt to return the slaves to their owners. This left a questionable mark on Van Buren's legacy given that he generally remained silent on matters of slavery. -
Van Buren arrives in New York
Following his departure from the White House, Van Buren arrived in New York City. He was escorted up Broadway in a procession led by "armed firemen" and a "corp of lancers" to Tammany Hall. Despite disparaging remarks on the event by Whigs, Van Buren stated it to be the "happiest day of his whole political life." -
John Tyler takes office
After the sudden death of President Harrison, Vice President John Tyler takes office and becomes the 10th President. -
President Harrison dies in office
Van Buren's replacement and member of the Whig party, William Henry Harrison, died just a month after he took the oath into office. Many believe that the cold and rainy day of his inauguration and failing health were the causes. -
Van Buren returns to Kinderhook
Van Buren arrives back in Kinderhook to great fanfare. As his steamboat arrived he was greeted by the playing of music and firing of artillery. He was then taken by carriage to the town center and proceeded to give a speech to his supporters and even some of his adversaries -
Independent Treasury repealed
On June 4, 1841 Henry Clay introduced a bill to the senate which sought to repeal the independent treasury. This would place the Treasury under control of the federal government and brought it one step closer to a National Bank. It would pass in the Senate shortly after its introduction