Yesterday's Blip in History: This Crazy Looking Dude
Yesterday was John Calhoun's
Like many, many people in history, John Calhoun is
well known enough to have his own Wikipedia page, but not well known enough for
anyone to care when his birthday was. Not that there is a particularly good
reason to remember it was his birthday yesterday. Before writing this post, I
barely knew that he was a figure in the United States’ history. I might have
guessed he was a president, but the highest position in the government he ever
achieved was Vice President (1). Before that he was one of the 1,973 senators
that the United States has had, as of January 3rd of this year
(2). To be exact, on December 29th
1832, he became the 323rd senator of the United States. Before that,
he was a congressman. Then, as mentioned, he was a senator, then a secretary of
war, a secretary of state, and finally, Vice President under both John Quincy
Adams and Andrew Jackson. This narrow-crazy-eyed man with flared gray hair
staunchly defended slavery, which makes George Healy’s painting of him look
even more vaguely sinister.
Things Got Interesting...
during
what for other people would only be marked by a midlife crisis. Nine days after
his 47th birthday, Andrew Jackson, the second president Calhoun
served under, made John Eaton his secretary of war and started what is known as
the “Petticoat Scandal”. The apparent qualifications to be Secretary of War at
the time seem to be that the appointee needs to be a fairly tried senator and
that’s it. John Eaton was a fairly tried senator and that’s about it. Therefore,
there was no special reason for Jackson to appoint Eaton, but according to John
Calhoun’s wife, Floride, the rumors surrounding his wife, Margaret, were plenty
reason enough.
Marvelous Mrs. Eaton
Margaret
Peggy Eaton was a musically talented politically savvy dancing tavern maid with
brown hair and a determined look in her eyes (3). Her first husband died
suspiciously suicidal-ly after rumors swarmed about her and Eaton having an
affair. They got married after her first husband died, and the rumors didn’t
stop (3) Floride led the other cabinet members’ wives in ostracizing Margaret
and John Eaton. An outside source on the affair looking in, Margaret Smith,
wife of Samuel Smith the founder of the National Intelligencer Newspaper, wrote
in a letter, “She [Margaret] has never been admitted into good society, is very
handsome and of not an inspiring character and violent temper. She is, it is
said, irresistible and carries whatever point she sets her mind on.” (4).
Mrs. Floride Calhoun Doesn’t Approve
It
isn’t surprising then that Floride Calhoun, a proper plantation mistress didn’t
approve of her, especially given that she had a, “suspicious and fault finding
temper…” (5). The Petticoat Scandal resulted in both the resignation of John
Eaton and one of his supporters, Martin Van Buren, from Jackson’s cabinet and
Jackson’s own reputation was in shambles. However, the Calhouns didn’t emerge
from this feather-ruffler unscathed, as John Calhoun’s chances of becoming
president were absolutely dashed. Reflecting on her life, Margaret Eaton noted,
“I must have said a great many foolish things…I am sure I did very few wise
ones. I was foolish, hasty, but not vicious.” (6). She died November 8th.
Calhoun served in the senate working to preserve slavery and the union, which
he saw as doomed, until his body was “so ravaged by tuberculosis that he could
no longer walk unassisted and his once penetrating voice so weak that he could
no longer speak,” (7). As with most of the momentous moments of his life,
Calhoun’s death occurred in March, on the 31st (7). His wife died
two and a half years after.
Notes:
*Thank you websites that clearly post citation information, whether through a citation button of some sort or just not hiding it somewhere obscure. It makes it easier to give credit where credit is due.
Image Credits:
Eatons Image: "John Henry Eaton and His Wife Margaret (Peggy) O'Neale" by Anonymous. Painting.1851-1900. Currently in The Frick Collection.
Floride Calhoun Image: "Floride Calhoun nee Colhoun" by unknown.
Sources:
(6) Meacham, Jon. American Lion. 2008, p. 67
Other Sources Consulted:
Comments
Post a Comment