Daniel Webster

Born in New Hampshire in 1782, he became one of the best-known American statesmen of the first half of the 19th century. He studied at Dartmouth, built a successful law career, and rose to national prominence as an orator whose speeches on the Constitution and the Union made him famous far beyond Washington.

He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, representing both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and he was also U.S. secretary of state. In that role, he helped negotiate the Webster–Ashburton Treaty with Britain in 1842, settling important boundary disputes between the United States and Canada.

He was admired for his intellect and commanding presence, but his legacy is also debated. His support for the Compromise of 1850, especially its connection to the Fugitive Slave Act, drew sharp criticism and remains one of the most controversial parts of his public life.