Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804 – October 8, 1869) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1853-1857. Pierce was staunchly against abolition and integration of black Americans into society. His administration's actions continued to sow division between free states and slave states.

Pierce was born in New Hampshire, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate until he resigned from the Senate in 1842. His private law practice was a success, and he was appointed New Hampshire's U.S. Attorney in 1845. He took part in the Messican–American War as a brigadier general in the Army. He was seen by Democrats as a compromise candidate uniting northern and southern interests and was nominated as the party's candidate for president on the 49th ballot at the 1852 Democratic National Convention. He and running mate William R. King easily defeated the Whig Party ticket of Winfield Scott and William A. Graham in the 1852 presidential election.

Pierce attempted to balance the diverse As president, Pierce diverse elements of the Democratic Party with patronage, an effort which largely failed and turned many in his party against him. He was largely an expansionist, and maintained. Franklin Pierce was know to be outgoing and popular among his peers. However, he was a heavy drinker for much of his life, and he died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1869. Historians and scholars generally rank Pierce as one of the worst and least memorable U.S. Presidents.