#14 – Franklin Pierce

#14 – Franklin Pierce Born: November 23,

1804 Birthplace: Hillsboro,

New Hampshire Political Party:

Democrat Term: 1853-57 Vice President: William

R. King Children: 3 – all boys Died: October 8, 1869

#14 – Franklin Pierce Attended Academy school at a

young age. Attended Bowdoin College in

Brunswick, Maine. 1824: Graduated from College. 1827: Admitted to the bar –

practices law. (lawyer) 1829-33: elected to the New

Hampshire state legislature.

#14 – Franklin Pierce 1833- 37: elected House of

Representative from New Hampshire. 1834: married Jane Means Appleton. 1837 – 42: elected U.S. Senator from

New Hampshire. His wife hated Washington D.C. , the

social life and drinking was too much for her. She forces Pierce to resign from the Senate.

#14 – Franklin Pierce 1842: returns to New

Hampshire and helps create a successful law practice.

1845: Pres. Polk appoints him a U.S. District Attorney.

1846: Mexican War breaks out. He volunteers for the army. He rises to the rank of Brigadier General.

He is involved in the invasion of Mexico City.

#14 – Franklin Pierce 1850: President of the New Hampshire

state Constitutional Convention. 1853-57: Elected the 14th President of

the U.S. – his wife hates this…. January 6, 1853: Involved in a train

accident. Their son dies in front of their own eyes.

1854: Kansas- Nebraska Act signed. 1854: Republican Party formed, as

opposition to the Kansas - Nebraska Act.

#14 – Franklin Pierce 1857: Did not serve a second term. During the Civil War he opposed

Lincoln. Died October 8, 1869.

#14 – Franklin Pierce Interesting Facts: 1854: Kansas-Nebraska

Act passed. 1856: Civil War in Kansas

– “Bleeding Kansas” 1855: Steel production

begins – Henry Bessemer. This replaces iron which is much weaker of a metal.

No states admitted.