Millard Fillmore Autograph

Profession:
(1800-1874) 13th president of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853, the last to be a member of the Whig Party while in the White House.

Year of Birth: 1800

Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States. He was born in Cayuga County, New York on January 7th, 1800. His parents, Nathaniel Fillmore and Phoebe Millard, were from modest backgrounds, and Millard was the second of nine children. He was largely self-educated, and only had the opportunity to attend a local academy for a short time.

Fillmore began his political career in 1828, when he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He was a member of the Whig Party, and in 1836 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the House until 1843, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He served in the Senate until 1848, when he was chosen as the vice-presidential running mate of Zachary Taylor. Taylor and Fillmore went on to win the election, and Fillmore served as vice president from 1849 to 1850.

In July of 1850, President Taylor died suddenly, and Fillmore became President. As president, Fillmore was faced with the difficult task of dealing with the slavery issue. He supported the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to balance the interests of the North and the South. He also signed the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed for the return of runaway slaves in the North. The act was deeply unpopular in the North, and Fillmore was criticized for signing it.

Fillmore was not renominated by the Whig Party for the 1852 election, and he retired from office in 1853. After leaving office, he returned to New York and became involved in numerous business ventures. He also served as president of the University of Buffalo, and he was active in the anti-slavery movement. He died in Buffalo, New York on March 8th, 1874.

Millard Fillmore was a largely unknown figure in American history until recently. He was criticized by many during his presidency, but he was also a strong advocate for the Compromise of 1850, which helped to keep the nation together. His dedication to public service and his willingness to work towards a compromise on the slavery issue made him an important figure in American history.

Millard Fillmore may have been overshadowed by many of his predecessors, but his legacy endures. He was a leader in times of great crisis, and his dedication to public service and his willingness to work towards compromise made him an important figure in American history.