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oh hello I am James Yasko
director of education and interpretation at The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson
the day was january 30, 1835 Jackson was leaving the East Portico of the
Capitol building following the funeral South Carolina congressman Warren Davis
part of his entourage included congressmen David Crockett
out from behind a pillar popped
a house painter Englishman by birth, name Richard Lawerence
Lawernce took a pistol and fired
at Andrew Jackson and the gun misfired he then took a second pistol out and fired and that
gun misfired also Lawrence took off running
Jackson who at this point was 67 - 68 years old
took off running and started beating Lawrence with his cane
now who was this Richard Lawrence and why did he try to kill Andrew Jackson
the first reported presidential assassination attempt
in American history as mentioned previously Richard Lawrence was English
house painter some experts in thought that perhaps his exposure to the chemicals
in early 19th century paint led to some
mental issues which might explain the situation
Lawrence believed that he was King Richard the third
because Jackson was in the process of shutting down the National Bank
the Second Bank of the United States. He was not getting the money
owed to him rightfully as the king of England. So he started harboring ill will
against Jackson study his movements a couple years prior to that he begin growing a
mustache
obvious sign of mental disturbance and buying
expensive flamboyant clothing which he would change three or four times today
schoolchildren in the areas begin calling in King Richard which he enjoyed
greatly
even though he didn't understand that they were mocking him
on the day of the assassination attempt
january thirtieth 1835 Lawrence was seen his paint shop reading a book
when all of a sudden he shut the book stood up and said
I'll be damned if I don't do it, and that's when he hid behind the pillar
where was the secret service you might ask
keep in mind the secret service did not begin in official functions until 1901
Richard Lawrence prosecuted for the attempted *** of Andrew Jackson
by a lawyer that you perhaps have heard of Francis Scott Key
the jury deliberated for less than five minutes before returning a plea of not
guilty by reason of insanity
and Lawrence spent the rest of his days in mental institutions
passing away June of 1861
and that is the story of the first assassination attempt in American
history
have a great day