Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/19

MARTIN VAN BUREN MARTIN VAN BUREN,, eighth president of the United States, born in Kinderhook, Columbia County, N. Y., December 5, 1782 ; died there, July 24, 1862. He was the eldest son of Abraham Van Buren, a small farmer, and of Mary Hoes (orig inally spelled Goes), whose first husband was named Van Allen. Martin studied the rudiments of English and Latin in the schools of his native village, and read law in the office of Francis Syl vester at the age of fourteen years. Rising as a student by slow gradations from office-boy to law yer s clerk, copyist of pleas, and finally to the rank of special pleader in the constables courts, he patiently pursued his legal novitiate through the term of seven years and familiarized himself with the technique of the bar and with the elements of common law. Combining with these professional studies a fondness for extemporaneous debate, he was early noted for his intelligent observation of public events and for his interest in politics. He was chosen to participate in a nominating conven tion when he was only eighteen years old. In 1802 he went to New York and there studied law with 3