History question for the day: Sure, you know Andrew Jackson was called “Old Hickory” but do you know why?

To see if you are right, please attend the Natchez Historical Society program at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to hear Tony Turnbow discuss his new book, “Hardened to Hickory,” covering Jackson’s 1813 Natchez expedition.

Turnbow, an attorney from Franklin, Tennessee, and president of the Natchez Trace Parkway Association, holds degrees from Vanderbilt and the University of Tennessee Law School.

His research on the Trace has resulted in numerous publications, including a full-length play, “Inquest on the Natchez Trace,” about the mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis.

That search led to his seven-year journey exploring Jackson’s expedition as he uncovered and deciphered documents including handwritten journals and letters.

“The story turned out to be more than I expected when I began researching: issues of war and peace, Jackson’s fight with General James Wilkinson, the similarities between Jackson’s attempts to command and those of his Indian counterparts, and how Jackson’s experiences with the federal government in this chapter of his life would make him determined to conquer his own government to change it. …” Turnbow writes about his experience. “This chapter of Jackson’s life is a fascinating story of his development from a time in our history when everything was unsettled. Those times allow strong leaders like ‘Old Hickory’ to emerge.”

The program will be held  at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 South Commerce Street. The meeting is free and open to the public. Join us for refreshments at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by the program at 7 p.m. For further information, visit the Society’s website: natchezhistoricalsociety.org. 

Maria Bowser is publicity chair of Natchez Historical Society.