Andrew Johnson

Date of Birth: December 29, 1808

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: July 31, 1875

Biography

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He ascended to the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was born into poverty and received no formal education. He became a tailor by trade but later entered politics, serving as mayor, state legislator, U.S. Congressman, and Governor of Tennessee. Johnson was a staunch Unionist and was selected as Lincoln’s running mate in 1864 to help balance the ticket. His presidency was marked by his lenient Reconstruction policies toward the Southern states, which led to significant opposition and eventually his impeachment by the House of Representatives. However, he was acquitted by the Senate by one vote and completed his term. Johnson returned to Tennessee after his presidency and was later elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the only former president to serve in the Senate.

5 Interesting Facts about Andrew Johnson

1. Andrew Johnson was the first American president to be impeached.

2. He was a self-taught tailor and opened his own tailor shop before entering politics.

3. Johnson never attended school; he learned to read and write with the help of his wife, Eliza McCardle Johnson.

4. He was the only Southern senator to remain loyal to the Union during the Civil War.

5. Johnson issued a blanket pardon to many former Confederates, which was highly controversial and contributed to his impeachment.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Andrew Johnson

1. “The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.”

2. “Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide.”

3. “If I am shot at, I want no man to be in the way of the bullet.”

4. “This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government for white men.”

5. “When I have laid down my office and am forgotten, I want my epitaph written that I was for the Constitution.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Andrew Johnson’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but it is estimated that he had modest means by the standards of his time, particularly compared to modern presidents.

Children

Andrew Johnson and his wife, Eliza McCardle Johnson, had five children: 1. Martha Johnson Patterson 2. Charles Johnson 3. Mary Johnson Stover 4. Robert Johnson 5. Andrew Johnson Jr.