Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster | |
|---|---|
Daguerreotype of Senator Webster circa 1847 | |
| 14th United States Secretary of State | |
| In office March 6, 1841 – May 8, 1843 | |
| President | William Henry Harrison John Tyler |
| Preceded by | John Forsyth |
| Succeeded by | Abel P. Upshur |
| 19th United States Secretary of State | |
| In office July 23, 1850 – October 24, 1852 | |
| President | Millard Fillmore |
| Preceded by | John M. Clayton |
| Succeeded by | Edward Everett |
| United States Senator from Massachusetts | |
| In office June 8, 1827 – February 22, 1841 | |
| Preceded by | Elijah H. Mills |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Choate |
| In office March 4, 1845 – July 22, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Rufus Choate |
| Succeeded by | Robert C. Winthrop |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1823 – May 30, 1827 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Gorham |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Gorham |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's At-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817 | |
| Preceded by | George Sullivan |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Livermore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1782 Salisbury, New Hampshire |
| Died | October 24, 1852 (aged 70) Marshfield, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Federalist National Republican Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Grace Fletcher Webster Caroline LeRoy Webster |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
| Signature | |
Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an important American statesman. He first became famous because of his defense of New England shipping interests. Later in his life, he became more and more nationalistic and convinced many other people. That made him one of the most famous orators and powerful Whig leaders of the Second Party System.
Webster did not like slavery but thought that it had had to be tolerated for the country to allow the country to stay together. He always supported national unity and harmony against various divisive schemes.
Webster became the northern member of a group known as the "Great Triumvirate," which included his colleagues Henry Clay from the West and John C. Calhoun from the South. Webster's "Reply to Hayne" in 1830 was generally seen as "the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress."[1]
Webster tried to keep the country from civil war and keep a firm peace. His efforts did not succeed, but he is still respected for them. He was officially named by the Senate in 1957 as one of its five best members.[2]
Early life
Webster was born on January 18, 1782. His parents were Ebenezer and Abigail Webster (née Eastman) in Salisbury, New Hampshire, which is now part of the city of Franklin. He and his nine siblings grew up on his parents' farm. His great-great-grandfather was Thomas Webster[3] (1631–1715), who was born in Ormesby St. Margaret, Norfolk, England, and settled in New Hampshire. As Daniel was a "sickly child," his family often let him have whatever he wanted and did not make him work on the farm.[4]
Career
Webster became a lawyer and politician. He was elected to Congress as a Federalist. He supported free trade, opposed both abolitionism and the expansion of slavery, and opposed the War of 1812 and the other Democratic-Republican policies.
When the Federalist Party declined, he joined with other former Federalists and National Republicans to form the Whig Party.
References
- ↑ Allan Nevins, Ordeal of the Union (1947) 1:288
- ↑ "U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > People > Senators > The "Famous Five" Now the "Famous Nine"". senate.gov. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ "Family History and Genealogy Records". FamilySearch.org. Archived from the original on 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ↑ "Daniel Webster." American Eras, Volume 5: The Reform Era and Eastern U.S. Development, 1815–1850. Gale Research, 1998. Student Resource Center. Thomson Gale. June 16, 2006.
Other websites
- United States Congress. "Daniel Webster (id: W000238)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Daniel Webster at Find a Grave
- Works by Daniel Webster at Project Gutenberg
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Sullivan |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district 1813–1817 |
Succeeded by Arthur Livermore |
| Preceded by Benjamin Gorham |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 1st congressional district 1823–1827 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Gorham |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Elijah Mills |
United States Senator (Class 1) from Massachusetts 1827–1841 Served alongside: Nathaniel Silsbee, John Davis |
Succeeded by Rufus Choate |
| Preceded by Rufus Choate |
United States Senator (Class 1) from Massachusetts 1845–1850 Served alongside: John Davis |
Succeeded by Robert Winthrop |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Samuel Smith |
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance 1833–1836 |
Succeeded by Silas Wright |
| Preceded by John Forsyth |
U.S. Secretary of State Served under: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler 1841–1843 |
Succeeded by Abel Upshur |
| Preceded by John Clayton |
U.S. Secretary of State Served under: Millard Fillmore 1850–1852 |
Succeeded by Edward Everett |