Edward Everett

Everett married Charlotte Gray Brooks in 1922. Brooks belonged to a well-to-do household and most of Everett’s political endeavors were financially supported by her family. They both had six children together.

In 1865, Everett caught cold while giving a speech in Boston, which became the reason for his death six days later and he was cremated at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Edward Everett was born in Massachusetts to Oliver and Lucy Hill Everett. His father was a pastor of New South Church and died when Everett was eight years old. After that he went to live with his mother in Boston.

Everett went to local schools in Boston but was soon transferred to a private school of Ezekiel Webster. When he was 13, he was sent to Harvard College and after four years he graduated from there as a valedictorian.

At the age of 17, Everett studied ministry under the tutelage of Havarrd President and received his MA degree in 1813. Right after, he worked at a post at the Brattle Street Church and became a popular preacher.

In 1814, he secured a position as a professor of Greek literature at Harvard under which he was authorized to travel all through the Europe and study French, German, Greek Art, Roman law, etc. there.

Everett resumed back his teaching obligations in 1819, incorporating all that he learnt from his Europe travels to the American education system. In the following year, he became the editor of the ‘North American Review’.

By 1822, he started gaining popularity as a public orator and preacher. He made a famous speech during this time regarding Greek struggle for independence.

Everett’s career path changed when he delivered a speech at Harvard on ‘Circumstances of the Favorable Progress of Literature in America’ in 1824. Impressed with the speech, he was made the candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

As the Governor of Massachusetts, Everett brought major changes in society - he introduced a state board of education, authorized an extension of the railroad system, quieting of border tensions between Maine and the neighboring Canadian province, etc.