As of 2018, who was the only U.S. president that spoke English as a second language?

Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States was born in Kinderhook New York in 1782. His ancestors were Dutch who settled in the New World in what would be called New York by the English. Growing up Van Buren's family spoke Dutch as their primary language.

Van Buren studied law and started a law practice with his half brother James Van Alen that became financially secure enough for Van Buren to focus on politics. New York State Senator, New York Attorney General and briefly as Governor of New York were some of the posts held by Van Buren before he became U.S. Secretary of State during Andrew Jackson's first term as president.

Van Buren's association with Andrew Jackson secured his nomination as vice president during the 1832 election. Van Buren became one of Jackson's closest advisors and confidants. When Jackson declined to run for the 1836 election, Van Buren became the candidate that Jackson supported and won against a field of 3 Whig opponents. Van Buren kept most of Jackson's cabinet during his term and tried to continue Jackson's policies. A few months into his term the financial panic of 1837 hit and soured his chances at winning a second term. He was defeated in 1840 by the Whig candidate William Harrison. Van Buren stayed in politics until after the 1848 presidential election, he died in 1862.