Franklin Pierce was born on November 23, 1804 in Hillsborough
(now spelled Hillsboro), New Hampshire. His father was General
Benjamin Pierce (later Governor of New Hampshire) and his
mother was Ann Kendrick Pierce. He was a graduate of Bowdoin
College in 1824 and he served as our nation’s 14th
President from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1857.
Mr. Pierce was a lawyer. He served in the New Hampshire
Legislature and later was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate. During the
Mexican-American War, Franklin Pierce was wounded in battle.
He served under General Winfield Scott, whom he later defeated
in the Presidential election of 1852. He had the first
bathroom, complete with hot & cold running water,
installed in The White House, and also brought in the first
Christmas Tree. His memory was so keen that he was able to
deliver his entire inaugural address (3,319 words) without
having to refer to notes of any kind.
Franklin Pierce married Jane Means Appleton in 1834. They had
three children: Franklin (who died in infancy), Frank Robert
and Benjamin (both of whom died as boys). He was the first
elected President who was denied nomination for a second term.
He retired to New Hampshire to spend his time fishing.
President Franklin Pierce died of cirrhosis of the liver on
October 8, 1869 in Concord, New Hampshire. He was 64. |