Frederic Melton
Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, was presented with a 1,400-pound block of cheese by Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, a New York dairy farmer, in 1835 or 1836. Jackson kept the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House for about two years, and in 1837, he invited the public to come and eat it. The cheese was gone in two hours, and the smell and stain in the Entrance Hall lingered for a long time. Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, also received a large block of cheese, weighing 1,235 pounds, from members of the Cheshire Baptist Church in Massachusetts in 1802.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| President | Andrew Jackson |
| Year | 1836 |
| Date | New Year's Day |
| Cheese Weight | 1,400 pounds |
| Cheese Diameter | 4 feet |
| Cheese Thickness | 2 feet |
| Donor | Colonel Thomas S. Meacham |
| Donor Occupation | Dairy Farmer |
| Donor State | New York |
| Cheese Origin | Oswego County, New York |
| Cheese Consumption Date | February 22, 1837 |
| Consumption Occasion | George Washington's Birthday |
| Consumption Location | White House |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Jefferson received a 1,235-pound Mammoth Cheese from Massachusetts
- Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound cheese wheel from New York
- Jackson displayed the cheese in the White House for a year
- In 1837, Jackson invited the public to eat the cheese
- The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell lingered
Thomas Jefferson received a 1,235-pound Mammoth Cheese from Massachusetts
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, received a Mammoth Cheese from the townspeople of Cheshire, Massachusetts, on New Year's Day, 1802. The cheese was a token of gratitude for Jefferson's commitment to religious liberty and his recent victory over Federalist rival John Adams. The gift was organised by Elder John Leland, a Baptist preacher who had befriended Jefferson during his time in Virginia. Leland persuaded the women of his congregation to make the cheese, which was crafted from the milk of 900 cows and measured four feet in diameter, thirteen feet in circumference, and seventeen inches in height. It weighed 1,235 pounds (or 1,400 pounds, according to another source).
The Mammoth Cheese was more than a gift—it was a political statement. The people of Cheshire were a religious and political minority in Massachusetts, subject to legal discrimination. They wanted to honour Jefferson's support for religious liberty and to celebrate his victory over the Federalists, who dominated New England politics at the time. The cheese was also a way for Leland to show his appreciation for Jefferson's friendship and to thank him for his help in securing the presidency. In a letter to Jefferson, the townspeople noted that the cheese was made "without the assistance of a single slave", a subtle dig at Jefferson, who was a slaveowner.
The Mammoth Cheese became a famous symbol of the aspirations of religious dissenters for religious liberty. It was celebrated and mocked in the press, with one writer calling it "ludicrous". Despite this, Jefferson accepted the gift, going against his policy of refusing presents while in office. He paid Leland $200 for the cheese (over 50% of its market price) and donated the money to Leland's congregation. The Mammoth Cheese remained at the White House for over two years, appearing at a public dinner for an Independence Day celebration in 1803.
The Mammoth Cheese inspired similar gifts to other presidents, including Andrew Jackson, who received a 1,400-pound block of cheese from a New York dairy farmer in 1837. Jackson kept the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House for two years before inviting the public to come and eat it. The cheese was gone in two hours, but the stain and smell lingered in the hall for a long time after. The gift of a giant cheese to a president became a popular trope in American culture, inspiring a critically acclaimed novel, a children's picture book, and an episode of the TV show "The West Wing".
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Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound cheese wheel from New York
Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, received a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese from his supporters in rural upstate New York. The cheese was crafted by Colonel Thomas Meacham, a dairy farmer who owned one of the largest dairies in the country. Meacham's motivation for creating the cheese was to bring attention to the flourishing economy of upstate New York, which had benefited greatly from the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.
The cheese was presented to President Jackson after a national tour that included stops in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. It was then put on display in the Entrance Hall of the White House, where it remained for two years, reportedly emitting a strong odour that could be smelled from blocks away. During this time, Jackson did not consume the cheese, as it was intended to age and was likely not ready for consumption when it first arrived.
Finally, in 1837, at the end of his presidency, Jackson announced that the cheese was ready to be eaten and invited the public to come and help themselves to a piece. This event, held on George Washington's birthday, resulted in a frenzied crowd hacking away at the cheese with pocket knives and slipping on the dairy-rich detritus underfoot. The party also served as a celebration of Washington, the city, and produced one of the greatest descriptions of cheese eating on record.
The cheese's journey and its eventual consumption at the White House became a notable episode in American history. It inspired the fictional White House chief of staff Leo McGarry's speech in season two of the TV show "The West Wing." The speech, in turn, inspired the real Big Block of Cheese Day, during which administration officials answer questions from the public.
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Jackson displayed the cheese in the White House for a year
President Andrew Jackson was gifted a 1400-pound block of cheese by Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, a New York dairy farmer, in 1835 or 1836. Meacham had no particular affinity for Jackson, but he did own one of the largest dairies in the United States and wanted to bring attention to the region. The cheese was created with local pride and intended to celebrate the region's success as a center of farming and industry.
Jackson displayed the cheese in the Entrance Hall or foyer of the White House for about a year or two years. It is said that the cheese sat untouched during this time, though it is hard to believe that no one sneaked a bite now and then. The cheese was described as having a strong odor, and it is reported that the smell lingered in the White House even after it was consumed.
In 1837, as his presidency was coming to an end, Jackson announced that the cheese was ready for consumption and invited the public to come and help themselves to a piece. This event took place on George Washington's birthday, which was a day of celebration in early 19th-century America. The cheese was gone in two hours, and the public was reportedly very enthusiastic about it.
The cheese was on display during a national tour that included New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before arriving at the White House. It was ornately decorated with paintings and mottos customized for the recipient, and it arrived at the White House in a cart drawn by 24 horses, creating a grand spectacle.
The tradition of the White House receiving and displaying large blocks of cheese has continued, with the Obama administration holding two Big Block of Cheese Days to encourage democratic discussion and citizen engagement with the president.
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In 1837, Jackson invited the public to eat the cheese
President Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese from Colonel Thomas Meacham, a dairy farmer in Sandy Creek, New York, in 1836. Meacham had no particular affinity for President Jackson, but he did own one of the largest dairies in the United States, and he wanted to bring more attention to the region, which was flourishing economically due to the Erie Canal.
Jackson left the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House to age for two years. During this time, the cheese became a landmark of sorts, and some even claim that it was left there as a populist symbol, for anyone who was hungry to come and eat.
Finally, in 1837, as his presidency was coming to an end, Jackson invited the public to come and help themselves to the cheese. On February 22, 1837, which also happened to be George Washington's birthday, the people of Washington, DC, rushed to the White House to get their share of the cheese. The event was described as a joyous and chaotic celebration, with people from all walks of life, including dignitaries, coming together to enjoy the cheese.
The cheese was gone in just two hours, but the stain and smell in the Entrance Hall of the White House lingered for a long while afterward. The event became known as "Big Block of Cheese Day," and it has inspired similar events where administration officials answer questions from the public.
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The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell lingered
The American people have a long history of presenting their presidents with gifts, and one of the most memorable offerings was a gift of cheese. President Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, a New York dairy farmer, in 1835 or 1836. Meacham had no particular affinity for Jackson, but he did own one of the largest dairies in the country, and the gift was intended to showcase the prosperity of New York's dairy industry. The cheese was put on display in the Entrance Hall or foyer of the White House, where it remained for about a year or two, ageing to perfection.
Finally, on February 22, 1837, as his presidency was coming to an end, Jackson announced that the cheese was ready for consumption and invited the public to come and help themselves. The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell lingered in the Entrance Hall for a long time afterward. The event was a hit, with people from all walks of life, including dignitaries, rushing to the White House to get their fill of the cheese. The crowd was so large that the Senate adjourned, and representatives left the capitol to join in the cheese-eating festivities.
The cheese-eating event was a symbol of democracy and accessibility, and it has inspired similar events in later administrations, such as the Big Block of Cheese Day during the Obama administration, where administration officials answered questions from the public. The cheese gift to President Jackson was not the first of its kind. President Thomas Jefferson had also received a large cheese gift, weighing 1,235 or 1,600 pounds, from members of the Cheshire Baptist Church in Massachusetts in 1801 or 1802. This gift was created using milk from approximately 900 cows and was intended as a symbol of democracy and the abolition of slavery.
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Frequently asked questions
Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the United States, was known for his affinity for cheese.
Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from Colonel Thomas Meacham, a New York dairy farmer, in 1835 or 1836.
The cheese was a gift to celebrate the success of New York as a center of farming and industry.
Andrew Jackson displayed the cheese in the Entrance Hall or foyer of the White House for about two years. In 1837, he invited the public to come and enjoy the cheese.
It is unclear if Andrew Jackson personally ate the cheese, but he did invite the public to enjoy it, and it was reportedly gone in two hours.
