William Henry Seward Biography

Dromo's Den

SEWARD, William Henry (1801–72). An eminent American statesman, born in Florida, Orange Co., N. Y., May 16, 1801. He attended an academy at Goshen, N. Y., graduated at Union College in 1820, studied law in New York City, was admitted to the bar at Utica in 1822, and in 1823 settled in Auburn for professional practice. He married the daughter of his partner, Judge Elijah Miller. In 1830 he was elected to the State Senate by the Antimasonic party, to whose first national convention he had been a delegate. As Senator he won distinction by his support of internal improvements, the common schools, and political reforms. In 1838 he was elected Governor of New York as a Whig. His administration was signalized by notable improvements in schools, prisons, judicial reform, and internal improvements. His term was marked by the antirent troubles (see Anti-Rentism) and the controversy over the McLeod affair. (See Caroline, The.) In 1840 he was reëlected. After the expiration of this term (1842) he gave his time to his profession at Auburn. In 1849 he was elected to the United States Senate, took a prominent place among Whig-party leaders, and became an intimate counselor of President Taylor. In the debate on the Compromise Measures of 1850 (q.v.) he delivered an able speech denouncing slavery and declared that "there is a higher law than the Constitution." He vigorously opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Bill (q.v.). In 1855 he was reëlected to the Senate, in spite of the opposition of Know-Nothings and Whigs of Southern sympathies. He was influential in the organization of the Republican party and at first was generally regarded as its leader. In October, 1858, he made a notable speech at Rochester, in which he spoke of the antagonism between freedom and slavery as an "irrepressible conflict" which could only terminate by the United States becoming entirely a slaveholding nation or entirely free. Prior to the Republican Convention at Chicago he was the most conspicuous candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1860 and on the first ballot received 173¹/₂ votes, but was finally defeated by Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln's election Seward became Secretary of State and rendered services of great value to the nation, holding the office during the Civil War and the four years of Johnson's administration. He negotiated many treaties and directed the foreign relations of the United States during a critical period with tact and success. Seward conducted the Trent affair (q.v.), questions arising out of French intervention in Mexico, and the matter of Great Britain's obligations as a neutral nation. (See Alabama Claims.) He brought about the purchase of Alaska from Russia (1867). His State papers are models of clear and vigorous style. During the war he supported President Lincoln in his efforts to raise and equip armies and approved the emancipation proclamations. On the evening of April 14, 1865, the day on which President Lincoln was assassinated, an assassin named Payne entered Seward's room and inflicted dangerous wounds upon him as well as upon his son. He recovered, however, and continued as Secretary of State in the cabinet of President Johnson until the end of his term. He entertained moderate views of Reconstruction and supported the plan of President Johnson, thus alienating from himself the more radical wing of his party. Upon his retirement from office in 1869 he made a journey to Alaska and in 1870 made a trip around the globe, visiting Europe, Asia, and Africa and being received with great honor. He died at Auburn on Oct. 10, 1872. His speeches and orations appeared in five volumes (New York, 1890), and his official correspondence was published by order of Congress.

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 755.