The great statesman, Daniel Webster, was born on January 18, 1782, in Salisbury in New Hampshire. He is popular within the American people as a politician. He was elected member of the US House of Representatives, Congress, and later, he became US Secretary of State during the tenure of 3 different US Presidents. He also served as an attorney when the Marshall Court was intact.
We have gathered 8 amazing facts about this great American politician.
Daniel Webster: 8 surprising facts about this politician
1. He won election to US House of Representatives twice
In 1813, he won the election to the US House of Representatives for the first time. His selection to the house lasted till 1817. This was the time when America was experiencing setbacks due to defeat in the war which broke out in the year 1812.
He won for the second time for the parliament’s lower house in the year 1823. This time, he was appointed chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives. During his chairmanship, he attempted to pass a bill under which the justices of the US Supreme Court will no more be required to travel to distant Western cities of the country. Unfortunately, when this bill was tabled in the house, it didn’t receive a single vote.
2. Daniel Webster was elected Senator as well
Webster was elected Senator during the tenures of 4 different US Presidents, an interesting fact about Daniel Webster. For the first time, he was elected Senator during Adam’s administration, from 1827 till 1829 from Massachusetts. This was his first time in the Senate. Before it, he was a member of the House of Representatives, and initially, he was reluctant to leave the lower house. His second term as a Senator was during Jackson’s administration from the year 1829 till 1837. Meanwhile, his third victory to the Upper House was during Van Buren’s tenure, from 1837 till 1841.
He was elected Senator for the fourth time from 1845 till 1849 during Polk’s administration. This time he wanted to retire from public office, but because of an invitation, he accepted to contest Senate elections in 1845.
3. Daniel Webster was a lawyer too
Despite being elected to the US House, he continued to practice law and successfully appeared in the US Supreme Court in 1814 to argue his first case. He rose to prominence from this point onwards and was widely respected for representing several cases in the Supreme Court. He was a counsel in the Supreme Court in a total of 223 cases, and according to historians, he won almost half the cases.
4. Webster appointed as US Secretary of State during John Tyler presidency
When John Tyler became the US President, he appointed Webster as US Secretary of State. Tyler and Webster held different viewpoints about the state’s rights towards its citizens, an interesting fact about Daniel Webster. Both of them developed a strong working bond and focused their attention on forming the basis of an active US foreign policy.
Webster also served as US Foreign Secretary under President Millard Fillmore. Fillmore became the US President when Tylor died, and soon after assuming office, he dissolved Tylor’s Cabinet and appointed Webster as his Secretary of State. Fillmore consulted Webster to nominate the other members of his cabinet.
5. He married twice
Webster married Grace Fletcher in the year 1808, and the couple had 5 children. Grace was the daughter of a clergyman in New Hampshire, and she was a school teacher. She suffered from a tumor and died in January 1828.
Later in the year 1829, Webster married a 32-year-old lady, Caroline LeRoy. She was the daughter of a businessman based in New York City. They lived together until Webster died after a protracted illness in the year 1852. Caroline remained alive till 1882. After the death of his first wife, Grace, Webster was alleged for having close relations with a painter named Sarah Goodridge. It is believed that Sarah was his mistress with whom Webster used to spend time.
6. Webster was an Orthodox Christian
According to a biography, The American Statesman: The Life and Character of Daniel Webster, published in the year 1856, Webster belonged to the Orthodox Church. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Episcopal Church. Another source, Remini, claims that Webster used to attend proceedings of different churches, but he remained affiliated closely with the Congregational Church for his entire life. Remini has supported his claim through a letter written by Webster to the pastor of a Congregational Church.
7. He died due to a liver ailment
Webster suffered from a liver ailment in early 1852, which made it difficult for him to continue his service as the secretary of state. He shifted to his house in Marshfield, but his health continued to deteriorate, resulting in his death on October 24, 1852. Reportedly, Webster’s last words were. “I am still alive.”
The US government honored this politician by naming a highway, Daniel Webster Highway, in New Hampshire to his name, a fun Daniel Webster fact. The US Postage issued several commemorative postal stamps in his remembrance. The postal department issued the very first stamp in the year 1870. He has been featured on 14 different postal stamps, more than any of the past US Presidents.
A statue of Webster was built in the National Statuary Hall Collection while another statue stands tall in the Central Park. Several states, including New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and others named towns after this politician.
8. Webster remained associated with different parties
Throughout his political career, Webster remained associated with the Whig Party, National Republican Party, and Federalist Party. He was nominated president of the Whig Party thrice in the years 1836, 1840 and 1852.
Conclusion
So, readers, these were some key facts about this US politician and a lawyer. He is held in high esteem among the US politicians for the role he played during the 1832 Bank War and for enhancing US presence in the Pacific region. It was during his tenure as secretary of state that the US government reached an understanding with the Chinese government for the partition of Oregon Country with Britain.
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