Before George Washington or Thomas Jefferson were ever called “Americans,” they were actually British subjects. So who was the first president born after independence — the first to be a true American from birth?
In this episode, Gordy dives into the life of Martin Van Buren, the first American-born president — and the only one who didn’t grow up speaking English as his first language. From his roots in a Dutch-speaking New York village to his rise as one of the nation’s most skilled political strategists, Van Buren’s story marks the turning point between the Revolutionary generation and a new American identity.
Discover how a man born in a tavern in Kinderhook, NY, helped shape modern party politics, earned the nickname “Old Kinderhook” (OK), and proved that being American has always been about more than where — or how — you were born.
No days off. Smartest Year Ever.
Sources:
Library of Congress. Martin Van Buren Papers. Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C.
National Park Service. (2025). Martin Van Buren: Eighth President of the United States.
U.S. National Archives. (2025). The Presidents of the United States of America: Martin Van Buren (1837–1841).
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2025). Martin Van Buren.
PBS. (2025). American Experience: The Presidents Collection – Martin Van Buren.
Millard, C. (2013). The American Presidents: The Lives of the 43 Chief Executives. Smithsonian Books.
#PresidentialHistory #USPresidents #AmericanHistory #FunFacts #DailyFacts #HistoryFacts #USHistory #Presidents #vanburen #martinvanburen Music thanks to Zapsplat.