The New Student's Reference Work/Pierce, Franklin

FRANKLIN PIERCE

Pierce, Franklin, fourteenth president of the United States, was born in New Hampshire, Nov. 23, 1804. He early came into political prominence in his native state. In 1837 he was elected to the United States senate, of which he was the youngest member. In 1842 he resigned his seat. He was a Democrat of the Jacksonian school and a zealous advocate for the admission of Texas, with or without slavery. He volunteered as a private in the Mexican War, but President Polk made him a brigadier-general. In 1852 he received the Democratic nomination for the presidency and obtained the electoral votes of all the states, save Vermont, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky. During his administration the Missouri Compromise was repealed by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. At the close of his administration he spent three years in Europe; returned home to Concord; but took no part in politics. He died at Concord, N. H., Oct. 8, 1869.