Daniel Webster

Born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, in 1782, Daniel Webster studied at Dartmouth College, read law, and quickly built a reputation as an exceptional advocate. He rose to national prominence as a congressman, senator, and one of the best-known public speakers of his era.

Webster was especially admired for his arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court and for major speeches on the Constitution and the preservation of the Union. He represented both New Hampshire and Massachusetts in Congress and the Senate, and he served twice as U.S. secretary of state.

Remembered as one of the leading American statesmen of the antebellum period, he combined legal brilliance with a commanding public presence. His career also reflected the tensions of his time, which makes him a striking and complicated figure in early American history.