Van Buren served as his father's private secretary during his father's presidential term. In his later years, he helped oversee management of his wife's South Carolina plantation and traveled extensively in Europe.
On March 3, 1837, Van Buren resigned his commission so he could become the president's private secretary after his father was inaugurated on March 4.[1] He remained in this position until the end of his father's term in March 1841.[1]
Van Buren's time in the White House ended after his father was defeated by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election.[4] Van Buren and his wife Angelica left Washington in March 1841 and visited with Angelica's family in Sumter, South Carolina, where Angelica gave birth to their son Singleton.
After Mexico's surrender, Scott appointed Van Buren as the military representative empowered to discuss peace terms with Mexican authorities.[3] Van Buren joined American diplomat Nicholas Trist in the subsequent talks, which ended when Trist obtained Mexico's agreement to the settlement that was later ratified as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.[3]
Following his return to the United States, Van Buren aided Scott to prepare a defense of Scott's wartime conduct for a court of inquiry.[6] He also gave testimony on Scott's behalf and the inquiry resulted in Scott's exoneration.[6]
Later career
After his Mexican War service, Van Buren and his family settled in New York City.[6] He had two strokes soon after relocating, and never completely regained his abilities to walk and speak.[6] He continued to serve as an army paymaster until resigning in 1854.[6] In retirement, he oversaw management of his wife's South Carolina plantation prior to the American Civil War and traveled extensively in Europe.[6] In 1859, Van Buren sold his wife's plantation on her behalf, receiving $147,000 (nearly $5.5 million in 2021) for the 210 slaves purchased by a plantation owner from Arkansas.[7]
In spite of his absence while serving in the military, Van Buren was still close to his father.[6] His wife and he enjoyed extended stays at the former president's Lindenwald estate and spent winters in South Carolina.[6]
Personal life
Family
Angelica Singleton Van Buren
In 1838, Dolley Madison, widow of former President James Madison, introduced Van Buren to her cousin, Angelica Singleton (1818–1877), at a White House dinner hosted by his father.[8] Singleton was a daughter of a wealthy South Carolina planter, and a refined lady who had been schooled in the fine arts at Madame Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia.[8] Van Buren fell in love with her and the two were married at Colonel Richard Singleton's Wedgefield, South Carolina plantation named "Home Place".[8] The President was unable to attend the couple's wedding; however, he was delighted with the match.[8] The newlyweds honeymooned in London.[8] Upon returning to the United States, Angelica assumed the duties of "White House Hostess" because her mother-in-law had died in 1819 and Martin Van Buren had not remarried.[8] The couple had four children.[9]
^Martin Van Buren National Historic Site (December 16, 2020). "The Election of 1840". National Park Service. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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