Franklin Pierce

author

Franklin Pierce

1804–1869

A little-known New Hampshire lawyer rose to the White House and ended up presiding over one of the most troubled stretches before the American Civil War. His life mixed political success, personal tragedy, and a presidency still debated today.

1 Audiobook

State of the Union Addresses

State of the Union Addresses

by Franklin Pierce

About the author

Born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in 1804, Franklin Pierce studied at Bowdoin College, became a lawyer, and built a fast-rising political career as a Democrat. He served in the New Hampshire legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate before later taking part in the Mexican-American War.

Pierce was elected the 14th president of the United States in 1852 and served from 1853 to 1857. His presidency is often remembered for deepening national tensions over slavery, especially during the fierce conflicts that followed the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

His private life was marked by repeated loss, including the deaths of all three of his children. After leaving office, he lived mostly out of public life and died in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1869.