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Higher Office(s) Served: Cabinet Secretary, President, Senator, Vice President

MARTIN VAN BUREN, the eleventh governor of New York, was born in Kinderhook, New York on December 5, 1782. His early education was attained at an academy in Kinderhook. He went on to study law, and in 1803 was admitted to the New York bar. Van Buren then established a long and distinguished career in both state and national politics. From 1808 to 1813 he served as surrogate of Columbia County; and from 1813 to 1820 he served as a member of the New York State Senate. He also was the attorney general of New York from 1816 to 1819; was a delegate to the 1821 State Constitutional Convention; and served as a member of the U.S. Senate from 1821 to 1828. Van Buren next won election to the governor's office on November 5, 1828. During his short tenure, banking reform measures were sanctioned. On March 5, 1829 Van Buren resigned from the governorship. He then served in President Jackson's cabinet as secretary of state, a position he held from 1829 to 1831. He also served as vice president of the United States from 1833 to 1837, as well as serving as president from 1837 to 1841. After running unsuccessfully for reelection to the U.S. presidency, Van Buren retired from political office, however he continued to remain interested in both local and national issues. Governor Martin Van Buren passed away on July 24, 1862, and was buried in the Kinderhook Cemetery in Kinderhook, New York.

Sources:

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 3, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

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