When and where was William H. Seward born?

William Henry Seward entered the world on the 16th of May 1801 in Florida, New York.

Who did William H. Seward marry and when did they wed?

Frances Adeline Miller married William H. Seward on the 20th of October 1824 after she became a classmate of his sister Cornelia.

What major speech did William H. Seward deliver on the 11th of March 1850?

William H. Seward delivered an anti-slavery speech invoking higher law than the Constitution which made him the leading anti-slavery advocate in the Senate.

How did William H. Seward respond to the Trent Affair involving James Mason and John Slidell?

Seward persuaded British minister Lord Lyons to postpone an ultimatum and ordered prisoners released reluctantly on technical grounds to improve relations with Great Britain.

When and how did William H. Seward die?

William H. Seward died on the 10th of October 1872 having served as Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869 after being seriously wounded during an assassination attempt by Lewis Powell on the 14th of April 1865.

William H. Seward: the story on HearLore

On the 16th of May 1801, William Henry Seward entered the world in Florida, New York. This small village sat north of New York City and west of the Hudson River. It held perhaps a dozen homes when he was born. His father Samuel Sweezy Seward owned land and enslaved people. Slavery would not end in New York until 1827. Young Henry ran away from home to go to school instead of running away from school to return home. He attended Union College at age fifteen. He joined Phi Beta Kappa as an outstanding student. Richard M. Blatchford became his lifelong legal associate during those college years. Money troubles led him to leave school briefly with fellow student Alvah Wilson. They traveled by ship to Georgia where Wilson took a job as rector. Seward continued alone to Eatonton in Putnam County. Trustees found his qualifications acceptable for the new academy. He witnessed ill-treatment of slaves there but returned to New York in June 1819. Family pressure brought him back before graduation. He studied law in Goshen then secured his degree with highest honors in June 1820.

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Seward passed the bar examination in late 1822 after studying with attorneys John Duer, John Anthon, and Ogden Hoffman. He chose Auburn in Cayuga County over practicing in Goshen. The town sat west of Albany and northwest of Goshen. He joined the practice of retired judge Elijah Miller whose daughter Frances Adeline Miller was a classmate of his sister Cornelia. Frances married Seward on the 20th of October 1824. A carriage wheel broke near Rochester while traveling to Niagara Falls. Local newspaper publisher Thurlow Weed helped them. Weed would become a major ally despite later perceptions that Seward was too controlled by him. The political system shifted as Martin Van Buren led one faction called the Albany Regency. Seward originally supported the Regency but broke from it by 1824 calling it corrupt. He joined the Anti-Masonic Party which grew widespread in 1826 following William Morgan's disappearance. Morgan likely died for publishing secret Masonic rites. General Andrew Jackson mocked opponents of the order so Anti-Masonry became opposition to Jackson. DeWitt Clinton nominated Seward as Cayuga County Surrogate in late 1827 or early 1828. The state Senate refused confirmation since Seward opposed Jackson. He made speeches supporting President Adams during the 1828 campaign. Weed aided his election to state senator in 1830 with about 2,000 votes. He traveled extensively meeting anti-Jackson leaders including former president Adams.

Seward took office as governor of New York on the 1st of January 1839 before jubilant Whigs. His annual message brimmed with youth and energy according to biographer Walter Stahr. He urged citizenship and religious liberty for immigrants arriving at New York shores. Public schools used Protestant texts like the King James Bible. Seward proposed changing this system believing education banished distinctions between rich and poor. His stance pleased Catholic immigrants but angered nativists who later helped defeat his presidential bid. A ship sailing from Norfolk Virginia carried an escaped slave back to its owner under the Fugitive Slave Clause. Virginia demanded three free black sailors be surrendered too. Seward refused and the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation inhibiting trade with New York. The New York legislature passed acts in 1840 protecting blacks against Southern slave-catchers. One guaranteed alleged fugitive slaves a jury trial in New York. Another pledged state aid to recover free blacks kidnapped into slavery. Seward signed legislation in 1841 repealing a nine-month law allowing slaveholders temporary presence. Slaves brought to the state were immediately considered freed after that date. He also established public education for all children leaving local jurisdictions to decide implementation.

Seward entered the U.S. Senate on the 5th of March 1849 during a special session confirming President Taylor's Cabinet nominees. He met with Taylor before Inauguration Day using an acquaintance with the general's brother. The regular Congress session beginning December 1849 focused heavily on slavery. Senator Henry Clay advanced resolutions known as the Compromise of 1850 giving victories to both North and South. Seward opposed pro-slavery elements delivering a speech on the 11th of March 1850 invoking higher law than the Constitution. The speech made him the leading anti-slavery advocate in the Senate. President Taylor died in July 1850 causing Fillmore to take office ending Seward's influence over patronage. Democratic Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Bill in January 1854. It permitted territories to choose joining as free or slave states effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise. Seward worked to ensure the bill would be unpalatable enough to defeat it though it passed into law. Northerners found a standard around which to rally while Southerners defended equal stake through slavery. Political turmoil split major parties leading to new ones like the American Party known as Know Nothings. They pursued anti-immigrant agendas and disliked Seward for his pro-immigrant stance. Seward won re-election by narrow majority in February 1855 despite opposition from scattered factions. He joined the nascent Republican Party in September 1855 after Whig and Republican conventions merged. His irrepressible conflict speech at Rochester alleged two antagonistic systems coming into closer contact. White southerners saw this rhetoric as a declaration of war damaging his presidential chances.

Seward toured Europe and the Middle East for eight months starting in 1859 returning to Washington in January 1860. He spent two months in London meeting Prime Minister Lord Palmerston presented at Court to Queen Victoria. Controversy awaited him since some southerners blamed his rhetoric for inspiring John Brown's insurrection attempt. Brown was captured and executed yet Mississippi representatives stated resistance would follow if radicals were elected. Seward delivered a major Senate speech on the 29th of February 1860 most praised though white southerners offended. The Republican National Committee ordered 250,000 copies printed eventually doubling that number. Weed expressed certainty then gloom about the convention fight ahead. Many in the Midwest did not want slavery dominating the campaign with Seward as nominee. Conservative factions opposed Seward while the Know Nothing Party remained hostile in the Northeast. Pennsylvania shifted its vote to Lincoln on the second ballot cutting Seward's lead from 173½ votes to 184½. Ohio changed four votes from Chase to Lincoln giving Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln the nomination on the third ballot. Word reached Seward by telegraph who calmly remarked Lincoln had attributes needed to be president. Despite public nonchalance he was devastated by losing the best-known Republican position. He campaigned for Lincoln over five weeks traveling rail and boat as far north as Saint Paul Minnesota. He journeyed into Missouri at St. Louis and even Kansas Territory though it held no electoral votes. New York proved key to election results since a loss there would deadlock the Electoral College.

Seward turned attention to foreign powers when war started ensuring they did not interfere in the conflict. His biggest challenge involved Great Britain whose leaders favored the Confederacy. An Anglo-American war would probably ensure Confederate independence. When the Confederacy authorized privateers in April 1861, Seward sent word becoming party to the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law of 1856. This outlawed such vessels but required ratification without action against Confederate ships. Palmerston government considered recognizing the Confederacy as independent nation. Seward drafted strong letter for American Minister Charles Francis Adams to read to Foreign Secretary Lord Russell. Lincoln toned it down considerably making it merely guidance for Adams. Britain and France declared South belligerents by international law in May 1861 entitled ships to remain 24 hours in neutral ports. Seward pleased both nations would not meet with Confederate commissioners or recognize South as nation. In November 1861 Captain Charles Wilkes intercepted British mail ship RMS Trent removing two diplomats James Mason and John Slidell. They were held in Boston amid jubilation in North and outrage in Britain. British minister Lord Lyons demanded release since U.S. had no right stopping British-flagged ship between neutral ports. Seward persuaded Lyons postponing ultimatum telling Lincoln prisoners must be released reluctantly on technical grounds. Relations improved; April 1862 treaty allowed each nation inspecting other's ships for contraband slaves. Seward pressed Palmerston preventing warships leaving port nearly complete October 1863 seized by British officials.

John Wilkes Booth originally planned kidnapping Lincoln recruiting conspirators including Lewis Powell. Having found no opportunity to abduct president, Booth assigned Powell to assassinate Seward on the 14th of April 1865. George Atzerodt targeted Vice President Johnson instead. Powell attacked Frederick Seward after attempting to shoot him. William H. Seward himself was seriously wounded during the assault. He remained in his post through Andrew Johnson presidency negotiating Alaska Purchase in 1867. He supported Johnson during impeachment proceedings despite being one of assassination plot targets. Contemporary Carl Schurz described Seward as spirit going ahead public opinion instead following footprints tamely. Seward died the 10th of October 1872 having served as Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869. Earlier he governed New York and served U.S. Senator. His work on behalf Union praised during Civil War while negotiating treaty purchasing Alaska Territory.

William H. Seward.

The Anti-Masonic Ascent

The Anti-Masonic Ascent

Laws For Free Blacks

The Irrepressible Conflict

The Convention That Changed History

Diplomacy And The Bell

The Attack And The Aftermath

Laws For Free Blacks

The Irrepressible Conflict

The Convention That Changed History

Diplomacy And The Bell

The Attack And The Aftermath

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Common questions

William H. Seward.

1. The Anti-Masonic Ascent

1. The Anti-Masonic Ascent

2. Laws For Free Blacks

3. The Irrepressible Conflict

4. The Convention That Changed History

5. Diplomacy And The Bell

6. The Attack And The Aftermath

2. Laws For Free Blacks

3. The Irrepressible Conflict

4. The Convention That Changed History

5. Diplomacy And The Bell

6. The Attack And The Aftermath

Continue Browsing

Common questions

The Anti-Masonic Ascent

The Anti-Masonic Ascent

Laws For Free Blacks

The Irrepressible Conflict

The Convention That Changed History

Diplomacy And The Bell

The Attack And The Aftermath

Laws For Free Blacks

The Irrepressible Conflict

The Convention That Changed History

Diplomacy And The Bell

The Attack And The Aftermath