William Henry Seward Sr.
Born: March 16, 1801
Birthplace: Florida, New York
Father: Dr. Samuel Swayze Seward 1768 – 1849
(Buried: Florida Cemetery, Florida, New York)
Mother: Mary Jennings 1769 – 1845
Wife: Frances Adeline Miller 1805 – 1865
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Married: October 20, 1824 in Auburn, New York
Children:
Lt. Colonel Augustus Henry “Gus” Seward 1826 – 1876
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Assistant Secretary of State Frederick William Seward 1830 – 1915
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Cornelia Frances Seward 1836 – 1837
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Brig. General William Henry Seward Jr. 1839 – 1920
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Frances Adeline “Fanny” Seward 1844 – 1866
(Buried: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York)
Political Party:
Before – 1834: Member of Anti – Masonic Party
1834 – 1855: Member of Whig Party
1855 – 1872: Member of Republican Party
Education:
1820: Graduated from Union College
Occupation before War:
1823 – 1849: Attorney in Auburn, New York
Supporter of the Albany Regency until around 1824.
1824: Had a Carriage accident in Niagara Falls, New York
1828: Campaigner for John Quincy Adams Reelection Campaign.
1830 – 1834: New York State Senator
1832: Hoped Justice John McLean would get nominated for President.
1834: Unsuccessful Whig Party Candidate for Governor of New York
1835: Went on a trip to the south going as far as Virginia.
Agent for Holland Land Company
1836: Campaigned against Martin Van Buren’s Presidential Campaign.
1838 – 1842: Governor of New York
1844: Declined to run for President for the Liberty Party.
1844: Supporter of Henry Clay’s Presidential Campaign.
1848: Supporter of Zachary Taylor’s Presidential Campaign.
1849 – 1861: United States Senator from New York
1849 – 1851: Member of Senate Territories Committee
1851 – 1857: Member of Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee.
1852: Supporter of Winfield Scott’s Presidential Campaign.
Opened his home safehouse for fugitive slaves in New York.
1853 – 1855: Ranking Member of Senate Pensions Committee
1854: Didn’t support the Kansas Nebraska Act.
1855: Joined the Republican Political Party.
1855 – 1857: Member of Senate Pensions Committee
1856: Received 1 vote for the Republican Party Nomination.
1857 – 1861: Member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Tried to be a statesman that both North and South could trust.
1860: Unsuccessful Candidate for Republican Party Nomination.
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1869: United States Secretary of State Department
1863: Accompanied President Lincoln to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Received allegations involving former President Pierce but Pierce denied the allegations.
1865: Stabbed by assassin Lewis Powell five times in the face and neck.
Occupation after War:
1867: Leader in the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire.
1868: Hoped President Andrew Johnson would be nominated by Democratic Party.
1868: Endorsed Ulysses S. Grant for President on eve of the election.
1868: Met twice with President elect Ulysses S. Grant.
Embarked on a trip across North America by the new transcontinental Railroad.
Met with Brigham Young in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.
1870: Embarked on another trip westbound around the world.
1870 – 1871: Spent time in India, Middle East, and Europe.
Died: October 10, 1872
Place of Death: Auburn, New York
Last Words: “Love one another”
Age at time of Death: 71 years old
Burial Place: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York
- His Funeral was attended by his friend Thurlow Weed and Harriet Tubman, President Ulysses S. Grant didn’t attend the funeral.
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