He Is The Only American President Who Spoke English As A Second Language

In the American town of Kinderhook, New York, Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782. He was Abraham Van Buren's third child with his wife Maria Hoes Van Alen. Abraham Van Buren had a tavern in addition to being a farmer. He was a Patriot who resisted British rule during the American Revolution. With whom she had three children, Maria Hoes was the widow of Johannes Van Alen. She wed Abraham, and they had five kids together after that. Martin's ancestors came to this country via the Netherlands. Her mother was likewise of Dutch descent. Martin studied English at school and spoke Dutch as his first language. So one of the interesting facts about Martin Van Buren is he is the only President of the United States to have used English as a second language.

He entered politics as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party after receiving legal training, earned a position in the New York State Senate, and was chosen to serve in the Senate in 1821. As the leader of the Bucktails group, Van Buren became the most significant New York politician in the 1820s and founded the Albany Regency, a political machine.