James Parton (1) (1822–1891)

Still one of the best and most complete and balanced biographies of Jackson. Not a typical romanticized 19th century bio-- from Parton pp vii,viii-“Andrew Jackson, I am given to understand, was a patriot and a traitor. He was one of the greatest of generals, and wholly ignorant of the art of war. A writer brilliant elegant, eloquent, without being able to
compose a correct sentence, or spell words of four syllables.The first of statesmen, he never devised, he never framed a measure. He was the most candid of men, and was capable of the profoundest dissimulation. A most law-defying, law-obeying citizen. A stickler for
discipline, he never hesitated to disobey his superior. A democratic
autocrat. An urbane savage. An atrocious saint.” So difficult is it to attain information respecting a man whom two thirds of his fellow citizens deified, and the other third vilified, for space of twelve years or more… (more)