Franklin pierce early life biography examples

 "Young Hickory of the Granite Hills"

Pierce received the nickname "Young Hickory" in reference to Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory". "Granite Hills" refers to the beautiful hills of New Hampshire, his home state.

"The Fainting General"

During the Mexican-American War, Pierce was blown off his horse from an artillery shell, crushed his leg, and shortly after passed out from the pain.

"Handsome Frank"

"Pierce is a perfect gentleman in his deportment, and most prepossessing and engaging in his manners and conversation. ...In stature he meets very accurately the 'six feet high and well proportioned' standard, has a fine, expressive, intellectual looking eye, regular and handsome features..." Daily Morning Post 9/6/1852

President of the United States from 1853 to 1857

This article is about the president of the United States. For other people with the same name, see Franklin Pierce (disambiguation).

Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804 – October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. A northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity, he alienated anti-slavery groups by signing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act. Conflict between North and South continued after Pierce's presidency, and, after Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, the Southern states seceded, resulting in the Amer

Franklin Pierce was born November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, to Benjamin and Anna Kendrick Pierce, the fifth of eight children. His father, Benjamin Pierce, was a significant figure in New Hampshire, having served as governor twice, an American Revolutionary War veteran, a farmer, a tavernkeeper, and a militia leader. His father's diverse roles and civic influence significantly shaped Franklin's political career.

Franklin attended a local elementary school and then academies at nearby Hancock and Francestown. In 1824, he graduated from Bowdoin College. Returning to Hillsboro in 1827 and admitted to the bar, Pierce began his law practice. Two years later, at age 24, he was elected to the lower house of the State legislature and rose to the position of Speaker. He then served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1833-37) and the Senate (1837-42), where he was the youngest member when elected. In Congress, he developed a reputation as a firm Democrat.

In 1834, Pierce married Jane Means Appleton of Amherst, New Hampshire, the daughter of a prominent Whig and Congregational minister. They had three sons, but none survived to adulthood. Jane Pierce suffered throughout their marriage from illness and depression. Their eleven-year-old son, Benjamin, was tragically killed in a train accident just two months before Pierce became President of the United States. Jane never recovered from the tragedy and rarely participated in White House events.

When the Whig Party gained control of Congress in 1841, Pierce became dissatisfied with his position in the Senate minority. On February 28, 1842, Pierce resigned from the Senate, returned to New Hampshire and devoted more time to his law practice. He later served as Federal District Attorney for New Hampshire (1845-46). He actively participated in state political affairs and opposed the abolition movement because he felt it created national divisivenes

Franklin Pierce became 14th President of the United States at a time of apparent tranquility (1853-1857). By pursuing the recommendations of southern advisers, Pierce — a New Englander — hoped to ease the divisions that led eventually to Civil War.

Franklin Pierce became President at a time of apparent tranquility. The United States, by virtue of the Compromise of 1850, seemed to have weathered its sectional storm. By pursuing the recommendations of southern advisers, Pierce–a New Englander–hoped to prevent still another outbreak of that storm. But his policies, far from preserving calm, hastened the disruption of the Union.

Born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in 1804, Pierce attended Bowdoin College. After graduation he studied law, then entered politics. At 24 he was elected to the New Hampshire legislature; two years later he became its Speaker. During the 1830’s he went to Washington, first as a Representative, then as a Senator.

Pierce, after serving in the Mexican War, was proposed by New Hampshire friends for the Presidential nomination in 1852. At the Democratic Convention, the delegates agreed easily enough upon a platform pledging undeviating support of the Compromise of 1850 and hostility to any efforts to agitate the slavery question. But they balloted 48 times and eliminated all the well-known candidates before nominating Pierce, a true “dark horse.”

Probably because the Democrats stood more firmly for the Compromise than the Whigs, and because Whig candidate Gen. Winfield Scott was suspect in the South, Pierce won with a narrow margin of popular votes.

Two months before he took office, he and his wife saw their eleven-year-old son killed when their train was wrecked. Grief-stricken, Pierce entered the Presidency nervously exhausted.

In his Inaugural he proclaimed an era of peace and prosperity at home, and vigor in relations with other nations. The United States might have to acquire additional posse