Franklin Pierce – 14th President of the United States

Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States. He served as the 14th President for four years from March 4, 1853, to March 4, 1857. He was born in 1804 from a descendant of Thomas Pierce in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. His father, Benjamin Pierce was elected twice as a governor of New Hampshire and was also a hero in the American Revolution. Franklin attended Hillsborough center school before being taken to a school in Hancock. In 1824 he joined Bowdoin College where he studied law. He got admitted to the bar in 1827 and practiced law in Hillsborough where he lost his first case. Franklin married Jane Means in 1834, one of the daughters of former Bowdoin College president. 

Political Life Of Franklin Pierce

Franklin got elected in 1882 to the Legislature of New Hampshire at the very young age of 24 years. Two years later, he became the Speaker of Legislature in New Hampshire. As a speaker, he offered the much-needed support to Jackson’s re-election. He also supported the protection of militia and opposed the expansion of banking. Pierce was a member of the state military until 1847 where he attained the role of a colonel. In 1832 he was nominated by his Democratic party to the House of Representative. In 1836 Pierce was elected to the Senate at the age of 32 but in 1841 he resigned from the Congress. In 1852 Franklin Pierce contested the Democrats presidential nomination ticket where he won by a majority. In the same year’s presidential election which put him against General Scott, who he served under during the Mexican War, Pierce won the popular vote. He became the youngest man to be elected president.

Legacy And Last Years

Pierce was a one term president. He lost the Democrat nomination to Buchanan largely because of his administration’s position on Kansas-Nebraska Act. At the time of his leaving the nation was near a civil war. He moved back to New Hampshire and dealt in property and touring Europe. Due to his heavy drinking, his health deteriorated and he passed away in 1869.