Millard Fillmore

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Unidentified Artist - Millard Fillmore - Google Art Project

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Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874) was the 13th President of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. He ascended to the presidency after the death of Zachary Taylor, becoming the second Vice President to assume the presidency upon the death of a sitting president. Fillmore was the last president to be a member of the Whig Party while in the White House. A lawyer by profession, he was also the last Whig president, and he played a pivotal role in the passage of the Compromise of 1850, a package of bills intended to stave off sectional conflict between Northern and Southern states.

Early Life and Career

Born in a log cabin in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Fillmore rose from poverty through diligent study and became a successful lawyer. He entered politics as a member of the Anti-Masonic Party and later joined the Whig Party, where he was elected to the New York State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives. As a congressman, Fillmore was noted for his opposition to the extension of slavery into the territories, although he was not an abolitionist. He also served as the Comptroller of New York State, the first to be elected by a direct vote of the people.

Vice Presidency and Presidency

Fillmore was elected as the 12th Vice President in 1848 on the ticket with Zachary Taylor. Upon Taylor's death in July 1850, Fillmore assumed the presidency. His most significant achievement was his support for the Compromise of 1850, which sought to address the contentious issue of slavery and its expansion into the newly acquired territories following the Mexican-American War. The compromise included the admission of California as a free state and the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act, among other provisions.

Despite his efforts to maintain unity within the Whig Party and the country, Fillmore's support for the Fugitive Slave Act alienated many Northerners and contributed to the decline of the Whig Party. He was not nominated for a full term in the 1852 presidential election and was succeeded by Franklin Pierce.

Later Life and Legacy

After his presidency, Fillmore remained active in politics. He ran for the presidency again in 1856 as the candidate of the Know Nothing movement, also known as the American Party, but was unsuccessful. In his later years, Fillmore focused on civic and philanthropic endeavors in Buffalo, New York, where he had established his home. He helped found the Buffalo Historical Society and the University at Buffalo.

Fillmore's presidency is often criticized for his support of the Fugitive Slave Act and his inability to prevent the country from sliding toward civil war. However, some historians argue that his actions were a pragmatic attempt to preserve the Union and avoid conflict between the North and South.

Fillmore died on March 8, 1874, and is buried in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery. 0