During the War of 1812 he was assigned as a surgeon's mate, Third Regular Virginia Militia, at Fort Meigs, Ohio.
He served as clerk of the United States district court in 1819.
Jackson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Sixteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Pindall and reelected to the Seventeenth Congress and served from October 23, 1820, to March 3, 1823.
1821; Jackson won election with 75.22% of the vote, defeating Federalist Thomas Wilson.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress