Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce - Democrats, Birthday and Childhood

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Franklin Pierce Biography Stories 

Franklin Pierce's Personal Details

Franklin Pierce was 14th President of the United States

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 23, 1804
Died onOctober 8, 1869
NationalityAmerican
FamousDemocrats, Phillips Exeter Academy, Leaders, Political Leaders, Presidents
IdeologiesDemocrats
SpousesJane Pierce (m. 1834)
ChildrensFranklin Pierce
Universities
  • Phillips Exeter Academy
  • Bowdoin College
  • Phillips Exeter Academy
Notable Alumnis
  • Phillips Exeter Academy
Birth PlaceHillsborough
Political IdeologyDemocratic
ReligionEpiscopal
GenderMale
FatherBenjamin Pierce, Benjamin Pierce
MotherAnna B. Kendrick
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inHillsborough
Died at Age64

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Franklin Pierce's photo

Who is Franklin Pierce?

When Franklin Pierce became the 14th President of the United States, the political atmosphere of the country was that of the calm before the storm. Most people at this point of time believed that as a result of the Compromise of 1850, the separatist mentality among various territories of the Union has been curbed. However, it did not take much time for things to once again become murky. All it took were a few hasty decisions and bad policies and the stormy winds of discontent once again began to blow across the north and south of the Union, which threatened its very existence and Franklin Pierce found himself in the thick of things. Before becoming the president, Pierce had served several terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, besides he was also a veteran of the Mexican-American War. Pierce also had an exemplary record as an attorney and remains the only person to become the president from the state of New Hampshire. Sadly, his personal life was filled with tragedy, as due to one or another reason he lost all of his children at a very tender age; this remained a great source of sorrow throughout his life.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born in the rural town of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce was one of the eight children of Benjamin and Anna Kendrick Pierce.

He received his early education at various private schools, first at Hillsborough Center and then at the Hancock Academy and in the fall of 1820, he took admission at the Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine

At college, he excelled in public speaking as well as academics, thus when he graduated in 1824, he was amongst the top three students of his class.

Later, in 1826, with the intention to study law, he entered Northampton Law School, located in the state of Massachusetts. He did his apprenticeship under Governor Levi Woodbury and Judge Edmund Parker.

He was accepted by the bar in 1827, after which he began his practice in Concord, New Hampshire.

Career

In 1829, Pierce’s political career took off, when he became member of the Legislative Assembly of New Hampshire.

In 1831, he was appointed as the Speaker of the House with a little help from his father, who had recently become the governor of the state.

Later in 1830’s he essayed the role of a state representative at Washington, which further established him as a serious politician. However during this time, he also developed signs of alcoholism. He continued to retain his post as the member of House of Representatives till 1837.

In 1837, he was appointed to the United States Senate, where he served till 1842, when he resigned from the post on his wife’s request and joined the temperance movement, while focusing on his law practice.

With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Pierce voluntarily joined the army as a Colonel, in 1847.

The same year on March 3, he was promoted to the post of Brigadier General and fought bravely in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco and was present during the final capture of the Mexico City.

On March 28, 1848 he resigned from the Army, having proven his mettle as a military commander, despite being a political appointee.

In 1850, after returning to his home and family, he served as the president of the state constitutional convention at New Hampshire.

In 1852 presidential elections, when the Democratic Party found itself in a stalemate over electing the presidential candidate, Pierce’s name was recommended, which was unanimously accepted by the delegates, on June 5.

Pierce and his vice presidential nominee Senator William R. King contested the popular elections against the Whig Party’s candidates General Winfield Scott of Virginia and his running mate William A. Graham. Scott.

He won the presidential elections comfortably, due to his likeable personality and lack of hard and fast stand on the slavery issue, which was the burning topic of the time.

He took over the presidential post on March 4, 1853, while mourning for his beloved son’s loss; this greatly affected his performance as the President.

On May, 1854, Pierce approved the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which reopened the issue of slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.

The Ostend Manifesto came into light on October 18, 1854, which came to be viewed as a rash diplomatic step on the government’s part; it dashed Pierce's hopes to annex Cuba.

Due to the Ostend Manifesto, Pierce was distanced from many of his Democratic Party supporters, which cost him his 1856 presidential reelection bid.

His presidential term ended on March 4, 1857, after which he went into retirement and spent about two years traveling with his wife.

After his return to the U.S., he was once again offered presidential candidacy in 1860 and then a third time in 1864, both of which he refused.

During his retirement, he remained a vociferous critic of President Abraham Lincoln because he had suspended habeas corpus, during the Civil War.

Personal Life & Legacy

He got married to Jane Means Appleton, in 1834 and the couple together had three sons, none of whom survived to see adolescence.

Weeks after being elected as the President of the United States of America, he lost his only remaining son, in a train accident, on January 6, 1853.

After their son’s death the Pierce couple became distant and during Franklin’s presidency Jane came to be known as "the shadow in the White House."

At the age of 64, he breathed his last in Concord, New Hampshire. Cirrhosis of the liver was declared as the cause of death.

His legacy lives on through various educational institutes, counties and geographical features that have been named after him.

The most noted among his namesakes are Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire; Pierce County in Washington, Nebraska, Georgia, and Wisconsin; Mt. Pierce in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains and Franklin Pierce Lake.

Pierce’s character was seen in ‘The Great Moment’, a film released in 1944.

Trivia

He is the only president, who took his inauguration oath by keeping his hand on the law book, instead of the Bible.

He was the first president, who brought a Christmas tree into the White House.

His vice president William King took oath of his office in Havana, Cuba.

During his presidential term the United States of America, acquired 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico, this acquisition came to be known as the Gadsden Purchase.

He was buried in the Minot Enclosure in the Old North Cemetery of Concord, right next to his wife and sons.

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Franklin Pierce biography timelines

  • // 1820
    He received his early education at various private schools, first at Hillsborough Center and then at the Hancock Academy and in the fall of 1820, he took admission at the Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine
  • // 1824
    At college, he excelled in public speaking as well as academics, thus when he graduated in 1824, he was amongst the top three students of his class.
  • // 1826
    Later, in 1826, with the intention to study law, he entered Northampton Law School, located in the state of Massachusetts. He did his apprenticeship under Governor Levi Woodbury and Judge Edmund Parker.
  • // 1827
    He was accepted by the bar in 1827, after which he began his practice in Concord, New Hampshire.
  • // 1829
    In 1829, Pierce’s political career took off, when he became member of the Legislative Assembly of New Hampshire.
  • // 1831
    In 1831, he was appointed as the Speaker of the House with a little help from his father, who had recently become the governor of the state.
  • // 1834
    He got married to Jane Means Appleton, in 1834 and the couple together had three sons, none of whom survived to see adolescence.
  • // 1837 To 1842
    In 1837, he was appointed to the United States Senate, where he served till 1842, when he resigned from the post on his wife’s request and joined the temperance movement, while focusing on his law practice.
  • // 1847
    With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Pierce voluntarily joined the army as a Colonel, in 1847.
  • // 1848
    On March 28, 1848 he resigned from the Army, having proven his mettle as a military commander, despite being a political appointee.
  • // 1850
    In 1850, after returning to his home and family, he served as the president of the state constitutional convention at New Hampshire.
  • // 1850
    In 1852 presidential elections, when the Democratic Party found itself in a stalemate over electing the presidential candidate, Pierce’s name was recommended, which was unanimously accepted by the delegates, on June 5.
  • // 1853
    He took over the presidential post on March 4, 1853, while mourning for his beloved son’s loss; this greatly affected his performance as the President.
  • // May 1854
    On May, 1854, Pierce approved the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which reopened the issue of slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
  • // 18th Oct 1854
    The Ostend Manifesto came into light on October 18, 1854, which came to be viewed as a rash diplomatic step on the government’s part; it dashed Pierce's hopes to annex Cuba.
  • // 1856
    Due to the Ostend Manifesto, Pierce was distanced from many of his Democratic Party supporters, which cost him his 1856 presidential reelection bid.
  • // 1857
    His presidential term ended on March 4, 1857, after which he went into retirement and spent about two years traveling with his wife.
  • // 1860
    After his return to the U.S., he was once again offered presidential candidacy in 1860 and then a third time in 1864, both of which he refused.

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Franklin Pierce's FAQ

  • What is Franklin Pierce birthday?

    Franklin Pierce was born at 1804-11-23

  • When was Franklin Pierce died?

    Franklin Pierce was died at 1869-10-08

  • Where was Franklin Pierce died?

    Franklin Pierce was died in Concord

  • Which age was Franklin Pierce died?

    Franklin Pierce was died at age 64

  • Where is Franklin Pierce's birth place?

    Franklin Pierce was born in Hillsborough

  • What is Franklin Pierce nationalities?

    Franklin Pierce's nationalities is American

  • What is Franklin Pierce ideologies?

    Franklin Pierce's ideologies is Democrats

  • Who is Franklin Pierce spouses?

    Franklin Pierce's spouses is Jane Pierce (m. 1834)

  • Who is Franklin Pierce childrens?

    Franklin Pierce's childrens is Franklin Pierce

  • What was Franklin Pierce universities?

    Franklin Pierce studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, Bowdoin College, Phillips Exeter Academy

  • What was Franklin Pierce notable alumnis?

    Franklin Pierce's notable alumnis is Phillips Exeter Academy

  • What is Franklin Pierce's political ideology?

    Franklin Pierce's political ideology is Democratic

  • What is Franklin Pierce's religion?

    Franklin Pierce's religion is Episcopal

  • Who is Franklin Pierce's father?

    Franklin Pierce's father is Benjamin Pierce, Benjamin Pierce

  • Who is Franklin Pierce's mother?

    Franklin Pierce's mother is Anna B. Kendrick

  • What is Franklin Pierce's sun sign?

    Franklin Pierce is Sagittarius