6 speedy facts about 6 Jameses
James Garfield is the best James
Ok, maybe that’s more opinion than fact. But I stand by it! Garfield was kind of brilliant — he taught classical languages, math, history, and geology early in his career. (And he came up with a proof for the Pythagorean Theorem.)
BONUS JAMES FACT: Garfield’s son James served as President Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of Interior.
Jimmy Carter studied nuclear physics
He didn’t consult Rosalynn when he decided to leave his post as senior officer assigned to a pre-commissioned nuclear submarine to return to Georgia and run his family’s farm. She didn’t speak to him the entire drive south from Schenectady, NY.
It all worked out though. He learned his lesson; they have been married longer than any other presidential couple.
James Monroe nearly dueled with Alexander Hamilton
That’s right. And do you know who Monroe asked to be his second? Aaron-Freaking-Burr. Yeah. That Aaron-Freaking-Burr. Burr encouraged Monroe to chill a bit (see fig. 1). Everybody chilled. Then (spoiler alert!), seven years later Burr went ahead and dueled with (/killed) Hamilton himself.
James Madison met his wife Dolley through Aaron Burr
Man, Aaron Burr is getting a lot of play in this list.
James K. Polk’s body has been moved three times
Originally buried outside of town because he died of cholera, then relocated to his estate. Currently, he’s buried at Nashville capitol grounds. PS Don’t let his hair fool you. There was no “party in the back” with this guy. Aaaaaall business.
James Buchanan
Of all the presidents with a military background, he’s the only one who was never an officer. Definitely the worst James of the batch. (And that has nothing to do with his military career.)
FIGURE 1
Aaron Burr soothed tensions and prevented a duel between Monroe and Hamilton.
(Doodle from The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation’s Call to Greatness, by Harlow Giles Unger.)
FUN FACTS!
James Madison and James Monroe aren’t interchangeable! It’s true. Learn more here.
And guess what else? 50% of the Jameses didn’t have biological children and have no direct descendants. That’s a much higher percentage than the non-James presidents and for some reason I find this fascinating.
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I’d love to know what you think of my itty bitty baby blog or find out if you have any fun James nuggets not in this list.
A LearningPlunge trivia question inspired this post. Full disclosure: I didn’t get the question right. I panicked under pressure and picked the wrong James.
Join me for their free monthly trivia! Visit LearningPlunge online for info or to register.
(You won’t see or hear me during trivia but know that I’m at home cursing after realizing 10 seconds too late that I typed the wrong answer.)
