A Brilliant Historian Tells of Historic Love Story

Dr. David Yielding, Rotary member, was the guest speaker. Dr. Yielding went to Abilene High School and has a PhD from the University of North Texas. Dr. Yielding shared  historical information about President Andrew Jackson.

In 1788, Andrew Jackson was in Nashville, Tennessee, and boarded a cabin near the home of Mrs. John Donelson. Her daughter, Rachel Donelson Robards, returned home to stay with her mother. Her husband, Lewis Robards, followed. Lewis eventually abandons Rachel.

In 1789, Andrew Jackson and Rachel Donelson Robards fall in love. For two years they live together as a married couple in Natchez.   When they return to Nashville, they return as a married couple. In 1791, Lewis Robards files for a divorce. The divorce wasn't granted until 1793. In 1794, Andrew Jackson and Rachel Donelson Robards are officially married.

Andrew Jackson becomes the President in 1828 in a heated campaign against John Quincy Adams.  Rachel and Andrew Jackson’s romance, almost 40 years earlier, figured prominently in the campaign with horrible accusations that Rachel was an adulteress, prostitute, and other such descriptors.  Jackson’s opponents charged that he had stolen another man’s wife.  The useless and pathetic attacks upon his wife during the campaign occasioned Jackson to swear vengeance upon those responsible.  The attacks took a toll on Rachel.

Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson died on December 23, 1828, and was buried at her home. Andrew Jackson was inaugurated January  March 4, 1829(the 20^th Amendment changed the date of presidential inaugurations from March 4^th to January 20^th.  Franklin D. Roosevelt was the last president inaugurated on March 4^th.  That was his first inauguration, March 4, 1933).