Martin Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States. 

Important events during President Van Buren's administration were:

• The Republic of Texas adopted its constitution on March 17, 1837.

• Charles Goodyear got the patent on rubber on June 17, 1837.

• Tennessee made it illegal to sell liquor on January 26, 1838.

• Cherokees were forced from their land in Georgia and moved west towards Oklahoma along what is called the "Trail of Tears" in May of 1838.

• Iowa was organized as a territory on June 12, 1838.

• The population reached 17 million people in 1840.  The immigrants from Europe were adding quickly to the population.

• The first dental school, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, opened on February 1, 1840.

Martin Van Buren was:

• the first President to be born a United States citizen.  Other Presidents were born before the American Revolution and were born citizens of England.

• the first President to be born in New York.

• the third President to be inaugurated as a widower.

• the first President whose son died in a foreign country.

• the eighth President and the eighth Vice President of the United States.

• was able to live to see eight Presidents from eight different states succeed him.