The First American President

To the Editor:

Who was the first US President to be born in the United States of America?

Before you answer too quickly, think about it.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. But that really just meant that the British Colonies of the New World “Declared” themselves independent. It wasn’t legally recognized anywhere else in the world, yet. So, nobody born before this date was born in the United States, since it still didn’t exist.

The Constitution was drafted September 17, 1787, but was not officially declared ratified until June 21, 1788. So, nobody born before this date was born in the United States, since it still didn’t exist.

Once the Congress of the Confederation received word of New Hampshire’s ratification, it set a timetable for the start of operations under the Constitution, and on March 4, 1789, the government under the Constitution began operations. So, nobody born before this date was born in the United States, since it just officially started to exist as a legal entity.

George Washington was born February 22, 1732, in the Colony of Virginia, and sworn in to office April 30, 1789.

The eighth President, Martin Van Buren, was born December 5, 1782, in Kinderhook (Columbia), N.Y., making him the first President born after the Declaration.

But tenth President, John Tyler, born March 29, 1790, in the State of Virginia, was the first President to officially be born in the United States of America.

John Krause

5A High Bridge Road, Sandy Hook                      December 14, 2008