William H. Seward
William Henry Seward (May 16, 1801–October 10, 1872) was an American politician. He was the fourteenth Governor of New York, and later a United States Senator. He was also the United States Secretary of State for two presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He was very much against slavery. He was an important person in the Republican Party when it was starting. Many people thought he would be nominated by the Republican Party to run for President of the United States in 1860, but that did not happen.
William Henry Seward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 24th United States Secretary of State | |
| In office March 5, 1861 – March 4, 1869 | |
| President | Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | Jeremiah S. Black |
| Succeeded by | Elihu B. Washburne |
| 14th Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1839 – December 31, 1842 | |
| Lieutenant | Luther Bradish |
| Preceded by | William L. Marcy |
| Succeeded by | William C. Bouck |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | John A. Dix |
| Succeeded by | Ira Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 16, 1801 Florida, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 10, 1872 (aged 71) Auburn, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Respiratory failure |
| Political party | Whig, Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Adeline Seward |
| Children | Augustus Henry Seward Frederick William Seward Cornelia Seward William Henry Seward, Jr. Frances Adeline Seward Olive Risley Seward (adopted) |
| Alma mater | Union College |
| Profession | Lawyer, Land Agent, Politician |
| Signature |  |
On the night that President Abraham Lincoln was killed, someone also tried to kill Seward. For the rest of his life, Seward had scars on his face from the attack. Later, the man who attacked him was caught and put to death.
When Seward was Secretary of State, he arranged for the United States to buy Alaska from Russia. People made fun of him for doing that. They called it "Seward's Folly". When asked what he thought was the most important thing he did as Secretary of State, Seward said "The purchase of Alaska—but it will take the people a generation to find it out".[1]
William H. Seward Media
Seward's wife Frances Adeline Seward
Gubernatorial portrait of William H. Seward
Seward around 1844. Painting by Henry Inman.
Black and white photographic portrait of William H. Seward (half-length)
William H. Seward, then Senator from New York
Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Seward photographed by the studio of Mathew Brady
Seward's little bell, as depicted in a hostile postwar cartoon
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References
Other websites
Media related to William H. Seward at Wikimedia Commons