Mother's Last Words Became The Guiding Light For Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, the former president of the United States of America, lived his life on the teachings of her mother, Elizabeth Jackson.

In 1815, following the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson stood in front of his men and spoke of his mother, who died three and a half decades before. He said, "Gentlemen, I wish she could have lived to see this day. There never was a woman like her." He further added, "She was gentle as a dove and as brave as a lioness. Her last words have been the law of my life."

What were those words that shaped and gave the United States of America its 7th President?

According to Jackson, it was this:

Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure up some things I have already said to you: in this world you will have to make your own way. To do that you must have friends. You can make friends by being honest, and you can keep them by being steadfast. You must keep in mind that friends worth having will in the long run expect as much from you as they give to you. To forget an obligation or be ungrateful for a kindness is a base crime–not merely a fault or a sin, but an actual crime. Men guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty.

In personal conduct be always polite but never obsequious. None will respect you more than you respect yourself. Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition. But sustain your manhood always. Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation. The law affords no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man. Never wound the feelings of others. Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings. If you ever have to vindicate your feelings or defend your honor, do it calmly. If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.

In 1767, Elizabeth Jackson gave birth to Andrew, shortly thereafter her husband died, leaving Jackson to raise her three sons alone in Carolina country. Elizabeth was a hard woman who instilled a toughness in her boys. “Do not let me see you cry again,” she’d say, Jackson later recalled.

During the American Revolutionary War from 1778 to 1781, Elizabeth Jackson encouraged all three of her sons to fight the British, including Andrew, who enlisted in 1779 when he was just 12 years old. She’d lose her eldest son, Hugh, in 1779 at the Battle of Stono Ferry.

In 1781, Jackson and his brother Robert were captured. During their captivity, a British officer slashed Jackson with his sword after he refused to polish the officer’s boots. At the same time, both the boys contracted smallpox in prison. When their mother received the information she arranged for their release in a prisoner exchange. However soon after the release, Robert succumbed to the illness and died. Jackson survived.

After Jackson recovered, his mother traveled to Charleston to aid the war effort by nursing injured and sick soldiers. There she contracted cholera and died, leaving Jackson by himself at the young age of 14.

Since then, Jackson always reminded himself of his mother's teachings. Her words became his guiding light and best friend as he grew up to become the President of the United States of America.