John Coffee was one of Jackson's oldest friends, eventually becoming an in-law after marrying a Donelson, and was apparently HUGE. He was considered to be the most even-tempered and least selfish of Jackson's lifelong friends. Described as a big awkward man, careless of dress, and slow of speech, Coffee was also said to be kindly, tactful and wise.
In 1807 Jackson had retired his most prized horse "Truxton", called "the horse of horses" by some in the day. However Jackson kept racing with other horses and between 1811-1815, he was particularly keen on defeating on horse called Maria. Maria beat Jackson's horse Yellow Queen several times and Jackson was starting to get obsessed.
This is all to give background to what happens next:
"In the fall of 1815 after Jackson had returned to Tennessee, claimed a national hero for his famous victory at New Orleans, he ran the DeWitt Mare again against Maria- only to lose again. The following week he matched Western Light against Maria and lost one thousand dollars.
Not yet convinced that anything could be so invincible, Jackson rematched the DeWitt Mare with Maria. In what was now becoming routine, Maria was the victor.
In 1815, the unsinkable Andrew Jackson proposed to stake ten thousand dollars on his horse, Yellow Queen, in a match with Maria. General Coffee, who was Jackson's closest friend and with him at the Battle of New Orleans, argued vehemently against such an extravagant wager. But Jackson remained resolute. After many heated words and no progress, Coffee, who was bigger and brawnier than Jackson, stepped behind the General, lifted him on his shoulders, and carried him out of the crowd and presumably out of temptation's reach. His tactics might have caused Jackson much consternation at the time, but they could not have perturbed him for too long. He saved ten thousand dollars when Yellow Queen came home number two." - Guild, Old Times, 250-5
Also John Coffee apparently carried Jackson bridal style back home after he got shot in the shoulder from the Benton duel.
Good friends man...
This... This is so good...🥹💖💖
I didn't know Coffee was that big! !
Coffee carrying Jackson in bridal style when he's injured is just...😩👌🏾
I feel like their relationship was literally this.😂
