Martin Van Buren

 
Michael F. McCartney
 
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Michael F. McCartney
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11 February 2009 15:38
 

ditto!~~~~

 
Guy Power
 
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Guy Power
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11 February 2009 16:17
 

Well done, Joe; I look forward to reading the completed article.

—Guy

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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14 February 2009 10:11
 
 
Michael Swanson
 
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Michael Swanson
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14 February 2009 10:50
 

Joseph McMillan;66590 wrote:

The article on Van Buren is now up at http://americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=President.VanBuren


Very informative article.

 

I noticed one typo: are not the same as those of the counts

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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14 February 2009 11:19
 

Thanks for the catch.

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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14 February 2009 11:22
 

Errr, what was the typo?  "are not the same as those of the counts" was correct, although I did just add the clarification, "of Buren."

 
Michael Swanson
 
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Michael Swanson
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14 February 2009 11:44
 

Joseph McMillan;66595 wrote:

Errr, what was the typo?  "are not the same as those of the counts" was correct, although I did just add the clarification, "of Buren."


You are right.

 
James Dempster
 
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James Dempster
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14 February 2009 12:09
 

Once again an excellent article.

I’ll keep this short since I’ve just watched the France-Scotland rugby match and am in the same state as someone who has just watched an American football game (i.e. full of tortilla chips and not entirely sober).

 

I notice that the arms


Quote:

also resemble the arms used by another family of Van Burens in New York, the descendants of Dr. Johannes Van Buren, born in Amsterdam in 1678, who immigrated to New York in about 1700. These arms replace the greyhound in the dexter half of the arms shown above with what appears to be a red fox, and use a demi-fox Gules, without any wings, as the crest.


I did my junior honours course on US history 20+ years ago so it is all a bit vague, but wasn’t van Buren known as "the red fox" or similar? Could that be a reference to arms he may have been using as well as to his alleged character?

 

James

 
Wilfred Leblanc
 
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Wilfred Leblanc
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14 February 2009 13:45
 

This is beautiful:


Quote:

During the same visit, Van Buren is said to have answered the queen’s inquiry as to how far back he could trace his genealogy by saying "As far back as Kinderhook, may it please Your Majesty."


As for the arms themselves, I can’t help noting affectionately that the older rendering of the greyhound in Van Buren’s crest reflects a characteristic attitude of my own Italian greyhound; they’re always trying to hug, in effect. I wonder if the artist didn’t have some exposure to one of them, because this isn’t precisely what is meant by "rampant," is it?

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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14 February 2009 15:15
 

James Dempster;66598 wrote:

I did my junior honours course on US history 20+ years ago so it is all a bit vague, but wasn’t van Buren known as "the red fox" or similar? Could that be a reference to arms he may have been using as well as to his alleged character?


I’m impressed! Most Americans, if they know anything about the pretty forgettable Van Buren, only know the nicknames "the Little Magician" or

"Old Kinderhook."

 

The painting of the Johannes van Buren arms is in an auction catalogue that tries to pass the arms off as having a connection to the president, and when I first saw them, I got all excited precisely because changing the greyhound to a fox for the Red Fox of Kinderhook would have been a great story. Unfortunately the auction house has it all wrong—there is no relationship between the Kinderhook Van Burens and the descendants of Johannes.

 

I would have put this picture in the article, but was afraid I might be violating someone’s copyright.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Slater front.BMP

 
James Dempster
 
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14 February 2009 16:13
 

Joseph McMillan;66606 wrote:

I’m impressed! Most Americans, if they know anything about the pretty forgettable Van Buren, only know the nicknames "the Little Magician" or

"Old Kinderhook."


You’re far too complimentary, especially as I now have the nagging doubt that I’ve mixed him up with Aaron Burr.

 

James

 
Jay Bohn
 
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14 February 2009 21:06
 

Quote:

Van Buren’s next successor but one, John Tyler (who succeeded to the presidency when William Henry Harrison died six weeks after taking office), . . .


William Henry Harrison actually died on April 4, 1841, which was 31 days after he took office.

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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14 February 2009 22:02
 

Thanks, Jay.  Serves me right for not double checking.  Fixed.

 
Donnchadh
 
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Donnchadh
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15 February 2009 00:57
 

I’ll add to the chorus of praise. I just love this series.

I like his arms by the way. This is one of my favotite president’s arms frankly.

 
Guy Power
 
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Guy Power
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15 February 2009 12:05
 

Joe,

Thanks for yet another well-written and informative article!

 

—Guy