Fillmore president biography

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Tompkins — John C. Johnson — John Tyler George M. Dallas — Millard Fillmore — William R. King John C. Wheeler — Chester A. Arthur Thomas A. Hendricks Levi P. Fairbanks — James S. He nearly withdrew from the meeting when he was told that he would have to kneel and kiss the Pope's hand. To avoid that, Pius remained seated throughout the meeting.

Fillmore's allies were in full control of the American Party and arranged for him to get its presidential nomination while he was in Europe. Fillmore made a celebrated return in June by speaking at a series of welcomes, beginning with his arrival at a huge reception in New York City and continuing across the state to Buffalo. The addresses were portrayed as expressions of thanks for his reception, rather than as campaign speeches, which might be considered illicit office-seeking if they were made by a presidential hopeful.

Fillmore warned that electing the Republican fillmore president biography, former California senator John C. Both Fillmore and the Democratic candidate, former Pennsylvania senator James Buchananagreed that slavery was principally a matter for the states, not the federal government. Fillmore rarely spoke about the immigration question, focused on the sectional divide, and urged the preservation of the Union.

Fillmore president biography: Millard Fillmore was the

Once Fillmore was back home in Buffalo, he had no excuse to make speeches, and his campaign stagnated through the summer and fall of Political fixers who had been Whigs, such as Weed, tended to join the Republican Party, and the Know Nothings lacked experience at selling anything but nativism. Accordingly, Fillmore's pro-Union stance mostly went unheard.

Buchanan won with 1, votes Fillmore and Donelson finished third by winningvotes The historian Allan Nevins wrote that Fillmore was not a Know Nothing or a nativist, fillmore president biography as support that Fillmore was out of the country when the nomination came and had not been consulted about running. Nevins wrote of Fillmore, "by no spoken or written word had he indicated a subscription to American tenets.

Fillmore considered his political career to have ended with his defeat in He again felt inhibited from returning to the practice of law. But his financial worries ended on February 10,when he married Caroline McIntosha well-to-do widow. Their combined wealth allowed them to purchase a large house on Niagara Square in Buffalo, where they lived for the remainder of his life.

According to the historian Smith, "They generously supported almost every conceivable cause. In the presidential election Fillmore voted for Senator Douglas, the Democratic nominee. After the vote, in which the Republican nominee, former Illinois Representative Abraham Lincolnwas elected, many sought out Fillmore's views, but he refused to take part in the secession crisis that followed, feeling that he lacked influence.

When Lincoln came to Buffalo en route to his inauguration, Fillmore led the committee selected to receive him, hosted him at his mansion, and took him to church. The Continentals trained to defend the Buffalo area in the event of a Confederate attack. They performed military drills and ceremonial functions at parades, funerals, and other events.

The Union Continentals guarded Lincoln's funeral train in Buffalo. They continued operations after the war, and Fillmore remained active with them almost until his death. Despite Fillmore's zeal in the war effort, he gave a speech in early calling for magnanimity toward the South after the war and counted its heavy cost in finances and in blood.

The Lincoln administration saw the speech as an attack on it that could not be tolerated in an election year. Fillmore was criticized in many newspapers and called a Copperhead and even a traitor. That led to lasting ill-feeling against Fillmore in many circles. In the presidential electionFillmore supported the Democratic nominee, George B.

McClellansince he believed that the Democratic Party's plan for immediate cessation of fighting and allowing the seceded states to return with slavery intact was the best chance to restore the Union. After Lincoln's assassination in Aprilblack ink was thrown on Fillmore's house because it was not draped in mourning like others. Fillmore was apparently out of town at the time and put black drapes in the windows once he returned.

He retained his position as Buffalo's leading citizen and was among those selected to escort the body when Lincoln's funeral train passed through Buffalo, but many remained angry at him for his wartime positions. Fillmore stayed in good health almost to the end of his life. He had a stroke in Februaryand died on March 8, at age 74, after a second stroke.

Two days later, he was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo after a funeral procession including hundreds. Senate sent three of its members to honor Fillmore, including former vice president Hannibal Hamlin. Fillmore is ranked by fillmore presidents biography and political scientists as one of the worst U. For example, President Harry S.

Truman later "characterized Fillmore as a weak, trivial thumb-twaddler who would do nothing to offend anyone" and as partially responsible for the war. Fillmore's name has become a byword in popular culture for easily forgotten and inconsequential presidents. Calabresi and Christopher S. Yooin their study of presidential power, deem Fillmore "a faithful executor of the laws of the United States — for good and for ill".

Fillmore's place in history has also suffered because "even those who give him high marks for his support of the compromise have done so almost grudgingly, probably because of his Know-Nothing candidacy in Benson Lee Grayson suggests that the Fillmore administration's ability to avoid potential problems is too often overlooked. Fillmore's constant attention to Mexico avoided a resumption of the Mexican—American War and laid the groundwork for the Gadsden Treaty.

Greenstein and Dale Anderson praise Fillmore for his resolve in his early months in office and note that Fillmore "is typically described as stolid, bland, and conventional, but such terms underestimate the forcefulness evinced by his handling of the Texas-New Mexico border crisis, his decision to replace Taylor's entire cabinet, and his effectiveness in advancing the Compromise of Campbell defends Fillmore's legacy, writing, "Historians have underrated him, his detractors have unfairly maligned him, and the institutions he honorably served have disrespected him".

Campbell argues that the Compromise of "did more good than harm for the nation and the anti-slavery cause ". Fillmore and his wife, Abigail, established the first White House library. Any assessment of a President who served a century and a half ago must be refracted through a consideration of the interesting times in which he lived. Fillmore's political career encompassed the tortuous course toward the two-party system that we know today.

The Whigs were not cohesive enough to survive the slavery imbroglio, while parties like the Anti-Masonics and Know-Nothings fillmore president biography too extremist. When, as President, Fillmore sided with proslavery elements in ordering enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law, he all but guaranteed that he would be the last Whig President.

The first modern two-party system of Whigs and Democrats had succeeded only in dividing the nation in two by the s, and seven years later, the election of the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, would guarantee civil war. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.

In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote Wikisource Wikidata item. President of the United States from to Portrait c. John Young Hamilton Fish. Abigail Powers. Caroline McIntosh. Millard Mary. Nathaniel Fillmore father. Major Militia Captain Guard. This article is part of a series about. Early life and career House University at Buffalo.

Inauguration Compromise of Electoral history. Fillmore Street Statue of Millard Fillmore. Early life and career [ edit ]. Buffalo politician [ edit ]. Representative [ edit ]. First term and return to Buffalo [ edit ]. Second to fourth terms [ edit ]. National figure [ edit ]. Election of [ edit ]. Main article: United States presidential election.

Nomination [ edit ]. For further information on the procedures of American political conventions, see United States presidential nominating convention. General election [ edit ]. Vice presidency — [ edit ]. Further information: Compromise of Presidency — [ edit ]. Main article: Presidency of Millard Fillmore. Succession amid crisis [ edit ].

Domestic affairs [ edit ]. Foreign relations [ edit ]. Election of and completion of term [ edit ]. Main article: Whig National Convention. Post-presidency — [ edit ]. Personal tragedies [ edit ]. Subsequent political activity [ edit ]. Remarriage, later life, and death [ edit ]. Legacy and historical view [ edit ]. The house is designated a National Historic Landmark.

The DAR placed this plaque on the house in See also [ edit ]. Notes [ edit ]. Prior to adoption of the Twenty-fifth Amendment a vacancy in the office of vice president was not filled until the next ensuing election and inauguration. Constitution designates the vice president as the Senate's presiding officer. References [ edit ]. Archived from the original on October 18, Retrieved October 19, Scarry February 9, Millard Fillmore.

McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN Millard Fillmore Papers. Buffalo Historical Society. Archived from the original on February 19, Retrieved February 18, History of Cayuga County, New York. Syracuse, NY: D. Archived from the original on November 17, Retrieved October 4, History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County. Geneseo, New York: Edward L.

OCLC Archived from the original on August 21, Retrieved November 16, Town of Aurora: — Archived from the original on February 18, The New-York State Register for Retrieved June 27, Archived from the original on April 21, Retrieved March 13, Archived from the original on July 30, Retrieved March 4, District Courts or U. Circuit Courts and also Millard Fillmore.

Archived from the original on December 26, Retrieved September 8, Archived from the original on June 9, Retrieved October 6, Archived from the original on February 8, Retrieved January 11, Ordeal of the Union: A House Dividing — The Origins of the Republican Party, — Kaleida Health. Archived from the original on December 2, Retrieved December 31, Archived from the original on April 7, In Girard, Jolyon P.

The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 3, The Wall Street Journal. As a successful congressman, Fillmore earned his party's attention and was nominated for governor of New York in Fillmore lost the election to U. He was elected as New York comptroller inbut he remained in that position only briefly. Inthe Whigs nominated him as vice president to run with the presidential nominee, Mexican-American War general Zachary Taylor.

They won election in November and were inaugurated in March President Taylor fell ill and died in July Upon Taylor's death, Fillmore was sworn in as president on July 10, At that time, debates concerning the westward expansion of slavery were raging in Congress, and the nation was on the verge of being torn apart by the issue. In an effort to avert civil war, compromise legislation had been introduced in Congress.

Fillmore backed the proposal.

Fillmore president biography: Born in the Finger Lakes

At first it was defeated, but when the legislation was broken down into five different bills, it passed. The Compromise of was adopted in September with Fillmore's approval. The slavery issue was the most challenging aspect of Fillmore's presidency. The Compromise of was not fully satisfactory to the proslavery or antislavery political factions. Abolitionists and slaves remained determined to end slavery forever.

Emotions were heightened by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act ofwhich required the federal government to enforce the return of runaway slaves. National debate continued with the publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe 's antislavery book Uncle Tom 's Cabin in Byinternal differences were weakening the Whig Party, and it was in decline.

As a result, Fillmore failed to gain the party's support for nomination in the presidential election of It was the last presidential election in which the Whigs would participate, and the party dissolved soon after. Init nominated Fillmore as the party's presidential candidate. His campaign stressed the value of the Union and the dangers of sectionalism, and he lost.

Abigail had died soon after they left the White House in After losing the election inFillmore returned to Buffalo and he soon busied himself with civic affairs. He was the first president of the Buffalo Historical Society, first chancellor of the University of Buffalo, a founder of the Buffalo General Hospital, and a trustee of the local library.

In Februaryhe married a local widow, Caroline McIntosh. They shared life together in Buffalo until Fillmore's death, from a series of strokes, on March 8, The major contribution of Millard Fillmorethirteenth president of the United Stateswas his signing of the Compromise of Millard Fillmore was born in Cayuga County, N. Although he held several legal clerkships, he was largely self-taught in the law.

He entered politics in association with Thurlow Weed and William H. Seward, helping to organize the Anti-Masonic party as a major third party in the North. As one of the party's leaders in the New York Assembly, Fillmore sponsored reforms, including abolishing debtor imprisonment and a bankruptcy bill. As a member of the U. House of Representatives in the s and s, he led his party into the newly formed Whig party.

He was elected comptroller of New York State in This proved an unpleasant experience, as he was excluded from all patronage and policy-making decisions. He was unable to prevent Taylor's opposition to Henry Clay 's proposals for ending the sectional crisis over the extension of slavery into territories acquired by the Mexican War ; but before Taylor could veto Clay's compromise bill, he died.

Fillmore, now president, quickly accepted the five bills which made up the Compromise of This was the high point of his administration and demonstrated his attempt to find a middle ground on the slavery question. However, he was attacked by antislavery groups, especially for his vigorous enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law, which was part of the compromise.

Fillmore believed that slavery was evil but, as long as it existed, had to be protected. Fillmore's policies all aimed at turning the country away from the slavery question. His most important recommendation was that the U. His foreign policy, formulated with Secretary of State Daniel Websterhad similar goals. In marked contrast to the aggressive policy followed by the United States during the rest of the s and s when Democratic administrations made every effort to acquire additional territoryFillmore sought to encourage trade through peaceful relations.

One of his major undertakings was to send Commodore Matthew Perry to open Japan to American commerce. In Fillmore was repudiated by the Whigs. After he ran unsuccessfully for president in as the Know-Nothing party's candidate, he returned to Buffalo to devote himself to local civic projects. He died on March 8, The definitive biography of Fillmore is Robert J.

Rayback's objective Millard Fillmore Vice President : none. Because he took fillmore president biography upon Taylor's death, Fillmore did not give an inaugural address. Millard Fillmore was born in upstate New York in He was the first of five sons of Nathaniel and Phoebe Fillmore. Because his family was poor, he was almost entirely self-educated.

When Fillmore did finally attend a school, he fell in love with his teacher, Abigail Powers, and later married her in InFillmore became a lawyer and later opened a practice in Buffalo, New York. He went on to serve as a member of the House of Representatives for fillmore president biography years, and inhe was elected vice president.

Fillmore was responsible for modernizing the White House. During his presidency, he had a cast-iron kitchen stove installed. An avid reader, Abigail Fillmore was responsible for starting the first library at the White Housewith funds allocated by Congress. Slavery was an important issue during Fillmore's presidency, and Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners.

Those who helped runaway slaves could be jailed. When Fillmore signed the bill, he became quite unpopular with Northerners and abolitionists. Even among his supporters, Fillmore was not regarded as a particularly strong president, and his party did not nominate him to run for a second term in Inhe was nominated; however, he lost the election.

Fillmore president biography: Millard Fillmore (January 7,

He then retired from politics and made his home in Buffalo, New York. During the Civil Warhe supported the Union cause by helping with fundraising and enlistment. People History U. History: Biographies Millard Fillmore. Fillmore, Millard gale. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. In the summer ofTaylor became even more hostile to the South when he threatened to lead the U.

In a letter to Webster, he wrote, God knows I detest slavery, but it is an existing evil, for which we are not responsible, and we must endure it and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the constitution, till we get rid of it without destroying the last hope of free government in the world. The Unknown President. Press of America.

Zachary Taylor and Milliard Fillmore won a bitterly fought election, but could not have been more different in backgrounds and political positions. The two did not even meet until after the election, and, when they did finally meet, they didn't hit it off well. As a result, Fillmore was excluded from any major role and relegated to being president of the Senate, which was beginning to debate several bills addressing the issue of slavery.

The sudden death of President Zachary Taylor in July brought a political shift to the administration. Taylor's entire cabinet resigned, and Millard Fillmore sided with Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas for a series of bills that would become the Compromise of While the Compromise of passed and was signed by Fillmore, it turned out to only prolong the fillmore president biography in the Union.

In foreign policy, President Millard Fillmore dispatched Commodore Perry to "open" Japan to western trade and worked to keep the Hawaiian Islands out of European hands. He also refused to back an invasion of Cuba by adventurous Southerners who wanted to expand slavery into the Caribbean. For this and his support of the Fugitive Slave Act, he was unpopular by many, and was subsequently passed over for re-nomination by the Whig Party in Instead, he ran for the presidency as a member of the American Party, which was affiliated with the Know-Nothing movement.

Officially retired from politics, he criticized President James Buchanan for not taking immediate action when South Carolina seceded from the Union inbut opposed President Lincoln's unconditional policies toward the South during the Civil War.