Andrew Jackson’s first major appointments when he became president in 1829 were the officials who made up his initial presidential cabinet. These were mostly loyal political allies rather than long‑standing national party leaders.

Quick Scoop

When Andrew Jackson took office in March 1829, he chose a group of men he believed he could directly control and who were loyal to him and his political vision. Instead of picking the most prominent party leaders, he favored trusted supporters and “plain businessmen,” which worried some established politicians.

Main officials Jackson put into office

Right after becoming president, Jackson’s key cabinet appointments were:

  • Martin Van Buren – Secretary of State (New York), Jackson’s closest political ally and future vice president and president.
  • Samuel D. Ingham – Secretary of the Treasury (Pennsylvania), in charge of federal finances.
  • John H. Eaton – Secretary of War (Tennessee), a personal friend whose appointment helped trigger the “Petticoat Affair.”
  • John Branch – Secretary of the Navy (North Carolina).
  • John Macpherson Berrien – Attorney General (Georgia).
  • William T. Barry – Postmaster General (Kentucky), heading a post office that Jackson raised to cabinet status because of its growing importance.

These men formed the core of the administration Jackson “put into office” at the start of his presidency.

Rotation in office and spoils system

Beyond the cabinet, Jackson also replaced many lower‑level federal officeholders with his own supporters, a practice often called the “spoils system.” He defended this rotation in office as making government more democratic, but critics said he was rewarding political friends and punishing opponents.

Official cabinet vs. “Kitchen Cabinet”

Because of conflicts and scandals like the Petticoat Affair, Jackson’s formal cabinet became divided, and he increasingly relied on an informal inner circle nicknamed the “Kitchen Cabinet.” This group included trusted allies such as Martin Van Buren, Amos Kendall, Francis Preston Blair, and Roger B. Taney, who advised him outside normal official channels.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.