On June 8, 1845, Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, passed away at his plantation home, The Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee. Suffering from severe chronic illnesses, the controversial and fiercely iron-willed military hero died surrounded by family and friends at the age of 78.
Jackson’s fierce temperament seemingly rubbed off on his family pet—a creature that had to be removed from his funeral. According to the officiating minister, Jackson’s pet African Grey parrot, Poll, began screaming a relentless torrent of profanities and wicked curse words that it had learned directly from the former president. The swearing parrot deeply shocked the mourning crowd and had to be physically carried away so the service could proceed.
