John Donelson (1718–1785) was an American frontiersman, ironmaster, politician, city planner, and explorer.

After founding and operating what became Washington Iron Furnace in Franklin County, Virginia for several years, he moved with his family to Middle Tennessee which was on the developing frontier.

There, together with James Robertson, Donelson co-founded the frontier settlement of Fort Nashborough.

Their tenth, daughter Rachel, married Andrew Jackson who was elected United States president in 1828.

From about 1770 to 1779, he operated the Washington Iron Furnace at Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia.

Because of armed conflict and flooding in his settlement, Donelson temporarily moved his family to safer areas in Kentucky.

Along with James Robertson who traveled the overland route, Donelson and a large number of pioneers traveled down the Tennessee and other rivers in excess of 1,000 miles to Middle Tennessee, where they co-founded Fort Nashborough, in 1780.

[3] Immediately prior to his death, Donelson was serving as a U.S. Indian commissioner "traveling to the Southeastern nations, including the towns of the Chickamauga Cherokees, endeavoring to negotiate a peace that would deliver the Cumberland settlements from the ongoing siege.

[1] They had eleven children, including four daughters who married well and had descendants who became prominent military men and politicians.

[1] Daughter Mary Donelson married Captain John Caffery, and two of their descendants served in national political office.

Several of John and Rachel's descendants were elected to political office.

In 1896 he was the first nominee for president of the "Democratic National Party" but declined the nomination.

[6] The Donelsons' great-great-great grandson, attorney Patrick Thomson Caffery (1932–2013), served one term as a Louisiana State Representative (1964–1968), and two terms as a United States Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district (1969–1973).

[7][8] Donelson was shot and killed in 1785 by an unknown person on the banks of the Barren River.

[15] The descendants tree of John Donelson is notable because in marrying into the family, Andrew Jackson "gained an army of brothers, literally, and together these members of the kinship network created an efficient system that provided profits for all.

[17] In October 1800, Caffrey advertised that he would soon "descend the river to New Orleans" in boats that were being constructed at Lancaster's saw-mill at the confluence of Caney Fork and the Cumberland River near present-day Carthage, Tennessee.

[18][19] In 1936 a descendant wrote, "Their home was in Natchez, Miss., where John Caffery was engaged in the mercantile business, in the employ of Andrew Jackson.

Sarah Knox m. (a) Benjamin Newton, (b) Dr. Arva Wilson, (c) George Washington Sevier Jr.;[21][d] many descendants of Knox's third marriage in Madison Parish, Louisiana[22] 2.5.1c.1.

Aaron Van Dorn Vertner, lieutenant, Confederate States Army; aide to his uncle Gen. Van Dorn and then to General Thomas C. Hindman;[24] killed at Shiloh[21] 2.7.2.4.

Aaron Van Dorn, an important early cartographer of Death Valley[21] 2.7.6.

Emily Donelson Van Dorn m. William Trigg Miller[23] 2.7.9.

Donelson Caffery m. Lydia Murphy, "wages and expenses" for him listed on a bill of "Aaron Burr in account with Andrew Jackson";[26] lived in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana in the 1810s;[27] appointed during the Jackson administration and served briefly in 1831 as collector of customs for the district of Teche and inspector of the revenue for the port of Franklin, Louisiana[28][29] 2.9.1.

Donelson Caffery II m. Bethia Richardson;[30] family archive held in special collections at University of North Carolina[31] 2.9.1.1.

Stockley Donelson m. Elizabeth Glasgow, no issue;[e] described as "among the most prominent land speculators in the region"[34]

Alexander Donelson, aide-de-camp to John Coffee,[41] "killed at Emuckfaw"[13] (or Talledega?)

Elizabeth Anderson Martin m. (a) Meriwether Lewis Randolph,[l] (b) Andrew Jackson Donelson [8.2] 6.10.1a.1.

Stockley Donelson m. Phila Ann Lawrence; builders of Cleveland Hall;[40] "family of beautiful daughters"[47] 6.12.1.

William Donelson m. Charity Dickerson; remembered as a "very wealthy man," he lived in the vicinity of Dry Creek and Mansker's Creek;[48][47] was trained as a surveyor[33] 7.1.

Pauline Wilcox m. Burke, wrote Emily Donelson of Tennessee 8.2a.3.

Severn Donelson m. Elizabeth Rucker; Severn Donelson was "severely" wounded by what was likely a "friendly fire" shooting[54] during James Robertson's Nickajack Expedition against the Cherokees;[55] he was said to be "fond of a dram and took several every day";[56] according to big sister Rachel Donelson Jackson, he died of "dropsy of the chest" in 1818.