The presidency of Martin Van Buren began on March 4, 1837, when Martin Van Buren was inaugurated as the 8th president of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1841, after one term.
1837 March 1837 March 4 – Martin Van Buren is inaugurated as the eighth president of the United States. Richard Mentor Johnson becomes vice president. Van Buren retains John Forsyth as secretary of state, Levi Woodbury as secretary of the treasury, Benjamin Butler as attorney general, Amos Kendall as postmaster general, and Mahlon Dickerson as secretary of the navy. Butler also serves as acting secretary of war.
March 7 – Joel Roberts Poinsett becomes secretary of war. March 27 – Secretary of State John Forsyth takes the position that American treaties with Mexico prohibit Texas annexation. March 28 – Van Buren issues Proclamation 43C, which revokes all Indian claims to land between Missouri and the Missouri River.
April 1837 April 22 – Van Buren appoints John McKinley to the Supreme Court as a recess appointment.
May 1837 May 10 – New York banks stop redeeming banknotes in gold and silver after the credit system collapses. This marks the beginning of an economic depression, the Panic of 1837. May 18 – The side wheel steamer USS Fulton is launched at New York Navy Yard. May 26 – The United States signs a treaty with the Kataka, Kiowa, and Tawakaro peoples.
June 1837 June 25 – James Kirke Paulding is selected as secretary of the navy, to take effect on June 30. June 27 – Officials in Maine allege that British forces in Canada are encroaching on the state's territory and request that Van Buren review the disputed boundary, which had been set by the Treaty of Paris in 1783. June 30 – James Kirke Paulding succeeds Mahlon Dickerson as secretary of the navy.
July 1837 July 18 – The ship-of-the-line USS Pennsylvania is launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It is the largest sailing ship ever built for the United States Navy. July 29 – The United States signs a treaty with the Chippewa.
August 1837 August 4 – The Republic of Texas proposes its annexation to the United States. August 5 – Van Buren rejects Texas annexation. He hopes that this stance will avoid controversy around introducing a new slave state while also improving relations with Mexico.
September 1837 September 4 – The 25th United States Congress convenes for its first session. Van Buren convenes Congress in a special session to address the Panic of 1837. He asks for the creation of an Independent Treasury. September 6 – Van Buren nominates Philip Kissick Lawrence to the District Courts for the Eastern District and Western District of Louisiana. September 18 – Van Buren nominates his recess appointment John McKinley to the Supreme Court. September 25 – The Senate confirms Van Buren's nomination of John McKinley to the Supreme Court. September 29 – The United States signs a treaty with the Mississippi Sioux. September 30 – Van Buren submits a proposal of Texas annexation to the House of Representatives.
October 1837 October 12 – The treasury is authorized to issue $10 million in treasury notes in response to the Panic of 1837. October 16 – The 25th United States Congress adjourns from its special session. October 21 – The United States signs treaties with the Yankton Sioux, Sauk, and Fox peoples.
November 1837 November – American citizens cross into Upper Canada and Lower Canada to fight against the British in the Rebellions of 1837–1838. Van Buren has General Winfield Scott negotiate with them to prevent further action. November 1 – The United States signs a treaty with the Winnebago people. November 23 – The United States signs a treaty with the Iowa people.
December 1837 December 2 – The sloop-of-war USS Cyane is launched at the Boston Navy Yard. December 4 – The 25th United States Congress convenes for its second session. December 5 Van Buren delivers the 1837 State of the Union Address. He proposes the creation of an Independent Treasury and addresses the nation's respective border disputes with Mexico and British Canada. Canadian politician William Lyon Mackenzie launches the Upper Canada Rebellion against British rule. The American steamship Caroline provides supplies for his rebellion. December 21 – Van Buren authorizes the creation of an Independent Treasury. December 22 – The United States signs a treaty of commerce and navigation with the Kingdom of Greece. December 25 – The Battle of Lake Okeechobee occurs during the Second Seminole War. American General Zachary Taylor declares victory after facing significant losses. December 28 – The sloop-of-war USS Levant is launched at the New York Navy Yard. December 29 – British Canada raids and burns the American steamship Caroline for assisting Canadian rebels. This begins the Caroline affair.
1838 January 1838 January 4 – News of the Caroline affair reaches Washington, D.C. January 5 – Van Buren informs Congress of his belief that the United States is unable to protect its borders under existing laws. He has the United States remain neutral in the affair and the incursions of American citizens against British Canada. January 15 – The United States signs the Second Treaty of Buffalo Creek with the Iroquois.
February 1838 February 3 – The United States signs a treaty with the Oneida First Christian and Orchard Parties.
March 1838 March 12 – The Supreme Court issues its decision in Kendall v. United States. It rules that Congress has the power to assign ministerial duties to members of the Cabinet of the United States and that these are enforceable by the courts.
April 1838 April 11 – The United States and the Republic of Texas sign a convention to resolve disputes around the capture of Texan ships Pocket and Durango. April 25 – The United States and the Republic of Texas sign a convention to resolve border disputes.
May 1838 May 2 – Van Buren delivers a message to the House of Representatives about conflict with Mexico over civilian steamboats. May 10 – Van Buren delivers a message to the House of Representatives warning that the federal government risks becoming insolvent. May 21 – Van Buren delivers a message to Congress regarding the expulsion of the Cherokee people. May 26 – The Cherokee removal takes place during the Trail of Tears as 16,000 Cherokee people are forcibly displaced. Approximately one fourth of the Cherokee population dies in the process. May 31 – The Specie Circular is repealed and the means used to pay debts to the federal government are reformed.
June 1838 June 12 – The Iowa Territory is created by dividing the Wisconsin Territory.
July 1838 July 5 – Felix Grundy is selected as attorney general, effective September 1. July 9 – The 25th United States Congress adjourns from its second session.
August 1838 August 18 – The United States Exploring Expedition launches from Norfolk, Virginia, to survey the Pacific Ocean.
September 1838 September 1 – Felix Grundy succeeds Benjamin Butler as attorney general. September 11 – Van Buren orders the creation of an arbitration commission to negotiate border disputes with Mexico.
October 1838 October 19 – The United States signs a treaty with the Iowa people.
November 1838 November 6 – The United States signs a treaty with the Miami people. November 21 – Van Buren issues a proclamation declaring neutrality in the Canadian rebellions and refusing assistance to American citizens participating in the conflict. November 23 – The United States signs a treaty with the Creek people. November 26 – The United States signs a treaty of commerce and navigation with the Kingdom of Sardinia. November 27 – Van Buren's son, Abraham Van Buren II, marries Angelica Singleton. Singleton becomes acting first lady after the couple returns from their honeymoon.
December 1838 December 3 The 25th United States Congress convenes for its third session. Van Buren delivers the 1838 State of the Union Address.
1839 January 1839 January 11 – The United States signs a treaty with the Osage people. January 19 – The United States signs a treaty of commerce and navigation with the Netherlands.
February 1839 February 7 – The United States signs a treaty with the Chippewa. February 9 – Van Buren nominates Samuel J. Gholson to the District Courts for the Northern District and Southern District of Mississippi. February 20 – Duels are banned in Washington, D.C. February 27 – Van Buren delivers a message to Congress calling for an end to the Aroostook War, a border dispute between Maine in the United States and New Brunswick in Canada.
March 1839 March 3 The Census Act of 1840 establishes the United States Census Office. The United States Patent Office is authorized to collect agricultural statistics and distribute seeds. A law is passed authorizing the president to raise a militia of 50,000 volunteers in the event of a British attack on Maine. The 25th United States Congress adjourns from its third session. March 5 – Van Buren issues the only veto of his presidency. He vetoes a joint resolution because it was not certified by the clerk of the House of Representatives. March 9 – The Supreme Court issues its decision in Bank of Augusta v. Earle. It rules that state governments can impose restrictions on corporations from doing business when the corporations are from other states, but that restrictions must be written explicitly into law. March 21 – General Winfield Scott negotiates an end to the Aroostook War. March 25 – A treaty is signed to end the Aroostook War.
April 1839 April 11 – A convention is signed to resolve claims between the United States and Mexico. April 23 – Van Buren appoints Isaac S. Pennybacker to the District Court for the Western District of Virginia as a recess appointment. April 24 – The sloop-of-war USS Marion is launched at the Boston Navy Yard.
May 1839 May 11 – Van Buren appoints John Cochran Nicoll to the District Court for the District of Georgia as a recess appointment. May 13 – Van Buren announces that a compensation agreement has been reached between the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom had taken slaves from the slave ships Comet, Encomium, and Enterprise after they ran ashore on the British Bahamas and Bermuda.
June 1839 June 13 The United States signs a treaty of peace, friendship, navigation, and commerce with Ecuador. The sloop-of-war USS Preble launches at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. June 20 – Van Buren begins a tour of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York to rehabilitate public perception of his economic policy.
July 1839
August 1839 August 24 – The Washington captures the Cuban ship La Amistad. La Amistad had been a slave ship that was taken over in a slave rebellion.
September 1839 September 3 – The United States signs a treaty with the Stockbridge and Munsee Delaware people.
October 1839 October 16 – Van Buren returns from his tour of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York without a significant increase in his approval. October 30 – Van Buren appoints Robert Budd Gilchrist to the District Court for the District of South Carolina as a recess appointment.
November 1839 November 8 – The sloop-of-war USS Dale is launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. November 13 – The Liberty Party holds a convention as an abolitionist movement. It selects James G. Birney as its presidential nominee, but he declines.
December 1839 December 2 The 26th United States Congress convenes for its first session. Van Buren delivers the 1839 State of the Union Address. He rejects the notion of a national debt and calls for the criminalization of using public funds for private purposes. December 4 – The 1839 Whig National Convention is held in Pennsylvania. The Whig Party selects William Henry Harrison as its presidential nominee and John Tyler as his running mate. December 31 – Van Buren announces a peace treaty with Ecuador.