I grew up in East Tennessee, where I gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. I was made a colonel in the militia of Lawrence County, Tennessee and was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1821. In 1825, I was elected to the U.S. Congress where I vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, most notably the Indian Removal Act. My opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1831 elections.