Daniel Webster
Uploaded by Admin on Nov 02, 2000
Daniel Webster was the ninth born son of Ebenezer Webster, who was a farmer and tavern-keeper. He was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire on January 18th in 1782. He was nicknamed “Black Dan.” When he was a child he was mostly bedridden, many thought he wouldn’t make it. He was forced to read. He fell in love with books. When he was just fifteen he entered Dartmouth College. After he graduated he taught for a little while before working in a law office in Boston. He made over 65,000 a year! In 1807 Webster married and moved to Portsmouth and became a lawyer in the fast-changing seaport. Though his law practice was an immediate success, the Websters, not very “go get them” socially inclined, he preferred that the evenings be spent at home nurturing the families needs. Some swear, some have suggested that this is because Daniel Webster was at times haughty, grim, standoffish and full of himself. He actively supporter of the pro-British Federalist Party, Webster was elected to the House of Representatives in 1817 and the Senate in 1827. This is where he had the reputation, as America's best-known and liked orator. He was also esteemed and a fantastic lawyer. Webster joined the Whig Party and served as Secretary of State under William Henry Harrison in 1841 and John Tyler until 1843. He was responsible for the negotiation of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty with the British government in 1842. He returned to guide and serve as Secretary of State under Fillmore in 1850 until 1852. Although he strongly opposed slavery, Webster supported the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. This angered all of the anti-slavery Whigs. They thought Webster wanted the support of the South in his proposed presidential bid in 1852. Instead, Franklin Pierce got the nomination. Daniel Webster died on October 24th, 1852. Many school hood friends attended.