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2024-11-08 05:28:53

Franklin Pierce

14th President of the United States
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
14th President of the United States

Franklin Pierce, a Northern Democrat, served as the 14th president of the United States from 1853 to 1857. His support for pro-slavery legislation and failed attempts at expansionism led to his reputation as one of the worst U.S. presidents.

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1804-11-23
Birth of Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth president of the United States, was born on November 23, 1804.

1814-01-01
Attended Hancock Academy

Franklin Pierce attended Hancock Academy in New Hampshire.

1824
Graduation from Bowdoin College

Franklin Pierce graduated from Bowdoin College in 1824, initially ranking last in his class but later improving to fifth position by the time of his graduation.

1825
Friendship with Nathaniel Hawthorne

While studying at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, formed a lasting friendship with the future novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864).

1827
Studied Law with Levi Woodbury

Studied law in the office of Levi Woodbury in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

1828
Election to New Hampshire Legislature

At the age of 24, Franklin Pierce was elected to the New Hampshire legislature and two years later became its Speaker.

1829-11-19
Marriage to Jane Means Appleton

Franklin Pierce married Jane Means Appleton, who was born on March 12, 1806 in Amherst, New Hampshire. She was the daughter of Jesse Appleton and Elizabeth Means Appleton.

1831
Speaker of the House

Franklin Pierce, known for his public speaking skills, was chosen as the Speaker of the House in 1831, showcasing his popularity and influence in the political arena.

1832
Election to the United States House of Representatives

In 1832, Franklin Pierce, still under thirty years old, was elected to the United States House of Representatives, aligning with the Democratic Party line on most issues.

1833
Sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1833, Franklin Pierce was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives as a representative from New Hampshire, marking his entry into national politics.

1834-11-19
Served in the United States House of Representatives

On November 19, 1834, the individual began their tenure in the United States House of Representatives, transitioning from state to federal politics and contributing to national legislative decisions.

1836
Birth of Franklin Pierce, Jr.

Franklin Pierce, Jr. was born in the year 1836.

1837
Franklin Pierce becomes U.S. Senator

After Franklin Pierce became a U.S. senator in 1837, his wife, Jane Pierce, who was a committed devotee of the temperance movement, detested Washington and usually refused to live there.

1839-08-27
Birth of Franklin Robert Pierce

Franklin Robert Pierce was born on August 27, 1839.

1841
Resignation from the Senate

In 1841, Pierce resigned from the Senate and moved his family back to New Hampshire, as he had grown tired of Washington.

1842-02
Resignation from the U.S. Senate

In February 1842, Franklin Pierce resigned from the U.S. Senate, ending his tenure as a senator.

1847-06
Franklin Pierce's Military Service in Mexican-American War

Franklin Pierce took advantage of the opportunity presented by the Mexican-American War to enlist men into the New Hampshire Volunteers and secure a commission through his connections. Despite having no military experience, he rose to the rank of brigadier general and commanded over two thousand men during the war.

1850
Support of the Compromise of 1850

Franklin Pierce firmly supported the Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act, the end of the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and the admission of California as a free state. This stance reflected his opposition to the abolition of slavery and his support for the rights of Americans to own property, including human property.

1852-11-02
Elected President of the United States

On November 2, 1852, the individual was elected as the President of the United States.

1853-01-06
Train Accident Resulting in Son's Death

On January 6, 1853, the individual was involved in a train accident in which their son Benjamin tragically died.

1853-03-04
Franklin Pierce inaugurated

Franklin Pierce is inaugurated as the 14th President of the United States.

1853-12-30
Gadsden Purchase Treaty Signed

The Gadsden Purchase Treaty was signed on December 30, 1853, giving the United States approximately 45,000 square miles of northern Mexico, which now comprises New Mexico and a quarter of southern Arizona. The treaty was aimed at acquiring land for a proposed southern transcontinental railroad and also resolved outstanding differences between the United States and Mexico regarding the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

1854-05-30
Signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act

President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act on May 30, 1854, aiming to address the issue of expanding slavery into the territories. However, it ultimately failed and became a key political event leading to the American Civil War.

1854-06-05
Canadian Reciprocity Treaty

The Canadian Reciprocity Treaty was an important event during President Pierce's presidency. It was a trade agreement between the United States and Canada that aimed to promote mutual trade and economic benefits.

1854-10-18
Ostend Manifesto

The Ostend Manifesto, written by U.S. minister to Spain Pierre Soule, proposes the threat of invading Cuba if Spain refuses to sell the island to the United States. This aggressive diplomacy by Soule, aimed at annexing Cuba, is supported by Southerners who see it as a potential site for expanding slavery. The document is disavowed by the State Department, leading to Soule's resignation and causing political repercussions.

1855
William Walker's Expedition

American adventurer William Walker conducted a notorious expedition into Central America with the hope of establishing a proslavery government under the control of the United States. In Nicaragua, he established himself as a military dictator and then as president, and his dubious regime was recognized by the Pierce administration.

1856-02-11
Pierce's Special Message to Congress on Bleeding Kansas

President Pierce addresses Congress regarding the ongoing violence in Kansas, known as Bleeding Kansas, and recommends the citizens of Kansas to frame a constitution to gain statehood and admittance into the Union.

1856-05-19
Proclamation 66—Law and Order in the Territory of Kansas

President Pierce issues Proclamation 66, commanding all persons engaged in unlawful combinations against the constituted authority of the Territory of Kansas or of the United States to disperse and retire peaceably.

1856-06-02
Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Franklin Pierce seeks re-election but is denied by the Democratic Party due to his handling of the 'Bleeding Kansas' conflict. The party nominates James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge for Vice President, making Pierce the only active elected president to be denied renomination by his party for a second term.

1856-07-15
President Pierce Declares Topeka Gov. in Rebellion

President Franklin Pierce declared the Topeka government in Kansas to be in rebellion, as it was established by free-staters who opposed slavery. This further escalated the tensions in the region.

1857-03-04
Franklin Pierce Leaves Office

On March 4, 1857, Franklin Pierce left office after serving as the 14th President of the United States. His presidency was marked by the escalating tensions between the Northern and Southern states, eventually leading to the Civil War.

1861
Franklin Pierce's support for the Confederacy

After leaving office, Franklin Pierce further damages his reputation in the North by supporting the Confederacy at the outset of the Civil War.

1863-12-02
Death of Jane Means Appleton Pierce

On December 2, 1863, Jane Means Appleton Pierce, the wife of President Franklin Pierce, passed away.

1864-05-19
Death of Nathaniel Hawthorne

On May 19, 1864, Nathaniel Hawthorne died while traveling with President Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire.

1869-10-08
Death of Franklin Pierce

On October 8, 1869, Franklin Pierce passed away in Concord, New Hampshire, and was interred in the Old North Cemetery.

1962
Index to the Franklin Pierce Papers

The Index to the Franklin Pierce Papers was published in 1962 in Washington, D.C. It serves as a guide to the papers of Franklin Pierce, providing valuable insight into the life and work of the 14th President of the United States.

End of the Timeline
Franklin Pierce
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