Franklin Pierce

14th President of the United States

Years in Office: 1853-1857

Party: Democratic

Did you know?

President Franklin Pierce introduced the first Christmas tree to the White House in 1856, delighting his young children and starting a tradition that would become a festive staple for many future First Families.

Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, served from 1853 to 1857. Born on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Pierce came from a politically active family. His presidency was marked by the growing sectional tensions over the issue of slavery. Pierce, a Democrat, aimed to maintain national unity but faced increasing strife between Northern and Southern states.

One of Pierce's notable achievements was the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, which added territory to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad. However, his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery in new territories, intensified the conflicts and contributed to the outbreak of "Bleeding Kansas."

Pierce's presidency was marred by personal tragedy; he and his wife, Jane, experienced the deaths of all three of their children before he assumed office. Following his term, Pierce retired from politics and faced criticism for his perceived role in the events leading to the Civil War. Franklin Pierce died on October 8, 1869, in Concord, New Hampshire.