Biography of Daniel Webster, American Statesman

Biography of Daniel Webster, American Statesman Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782–October 24, 1852) was one of the most eloquent and influential American political figures of the early 19th century. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Senate, and in the executive branch as the Secretary of State. Given his prominence in debating the great issues of his day, Webster was considered, along with  Henry Clay  and  John C. Calhoun, a member of the Great Triumvirate. The three men, each representing a different region of the country, defined national politics for several decades. Fast Facts: Daniel Webster Known For: Webster was an influential American statesman and orator.Born: January 18, 1782 in Salisbury, New HampshireParents: Ebenezer and Abigail WebsterDied: October 24, 1852 in Marshfield, MassachusettsSpouse(s): Grace Fletcher, Caroline LeRoy WebsterChildren: 5 Early Life Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, on January 18, 1782. He grew up on a farm, and worked there during the warm months and attended a local school in the winter. Webster later attended Phillips Academy and Dartmouth College, where he became known for his impressive speaking skills. After graduation, Webster learned the law by working for a lawyer (the usual practice before law schools became common). He practiced law from 1807 until the time he entered Congress. Early Political Career Webster first attained some local prominence when he addressed an Independence Day commemoration on July 4, 1812, speaking on the topic of the war, which had just been declared against Britain by President James Madison. Webster, like many in New England, opposed the War of 1812. He was elected to the House of Representatives from a New Hampshire district in 1813. In the U.S. Capitol, he became known as a skillful orator, and he often argued against the Madison administrations war policies. Webster left Congress in 1816 to concentrate on his legal career. He acquired a reputation as a highly skilled litigator and argued several prominent cases before the U.S. Supreme Court during the era of Chief Justice John Marshall. One of these cases, Gibbons v. Ogden, established the scope of the U.S. governments authority over interstate commerce. Webster returned to the House of Representatives in 1823 as a representative from Massachusetts. While serving in Congress, Webster often gave public addresses, including eulogies for Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (who both died on July 4, 1826). He became known as the greatest public speaker in the country. Senate Career Webster was elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts in 1827. He would serve until 1841, and would be a prominent participant in many critical debates. Webster supported the passage of the  Tariff of Abominations  in 1828, and that brought him into conflict with John C. Calhoun, the intelligent and fiery political figure from South Carolina. Sectional disputes came into focus, and Webster and a close friend of Calhoun, Senator Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina, squared off in debates on the floor of the Senate in January 1830. Hayne argued in favor of states rights, and Webster, in a famous rebuttal, forcefully argued for the authority of the federal government. The verbal fireworks between Webster and Hayne became something of a symbol for the nations growing divisions. The debates were covered in detail by newspapers and watched closely by the public. As the  Nullification Crisis  developed, Webster supported the policy of  President Andrew Jackson, who threatened to send federal troops to South Carolina. The crisis was averted before violent action took place. Webster opposed the economic policies of Andrew Jackson, however, and in 1836 he ran for president as a Whig against  Martin Van Buren, a close political associate of Jackson. In a contentious four-way race, Webster only carried his own state of Massachusetts. Secretary of State Four years later, Webster again sought the Whig nomination for president but lost to  William Henry Harrison, who won the election of 1840. Harrison appointed Webster as his Secretary of State. President Harrison died a month after taking office. As he was the first president to die in office, there was a controversy over presidential succession in which Webster participated.  John Tyler, Harrisons vice president, asserted that he should become the next president, and the  Tyler Precedent  became accepted practice. Webster was one of the cabinet officials who disagreed with this decision; he felt that the presidential cabinet should share some of the presidential powers. After this controversy, Webster did not get along with Tyler, and he resigned from his post in 1843. Later Senate Career Webster returned to the U.S. Senate in 1845. He had tried to secure the Whig nomination for president in 1844 but lost to longtime rival Henry Clay. In 1848, Webster lost another attempt to get the nomination when the Whigs nominated  Zachary Taylor, a hero of the  Mexican War. Webster was opposed to the spread of slavery to new American territories. In the late 1840s, however, he began supporting compromises proposed by Henry Clay to keep the Union together. In his last major action in the Senate, he supported the  Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act that was highly unpopular in New England. Webster delivered a highly anticipated address during Senate debates- later known as the Seventh of March Speech- in which he spoke in favor of preserving the Union. Many of his constituents, deeply offended by parts of his speech, felt betrayed by Webster. He left the Senate a few months later, when  Millard Fillmore, who had become president after the death of Zachary Taylor, appointed him as Secretary of State. In May 1851, Webster rode along with two New York politicians, Senator William Seward and President Millard Fillmore, on a train trip to celebrate the new Erie Railroad. At every stop across New York State crowds gathered, mostly because they were hoping to hear a speech by Webster. His oratory skills were such that he overshadowed the president. Webster tried again to be nominated for president on the Whig ticket in 1852, but the party chose General Winfield Scott at a  brokered convention. Angered by the decision, Webster refused to support Scotts candidacy. Death Webster died on October 24, 1852, just before the general election (which Winfield Scott would lose to  Franklin Pierce). He was buried in Winslow Cemetery  in  Marshfield, Massachusetts. Legacy Webster cast a long shadow in American politics. He was greatly admired, even by some of his detractors, for his knowledge and speaking skills, which made him one of the most influential political figures of his time. A statue of the American statesman stands in New Yorks Central Park. Sources Brands, H. W. Heirs of the Founders: the Epic Rivalry of Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants. Random House, 2018.Remini, Robert V. Daniel Webster: the Man and His Time. W.W. Norton Co., 2015.

Top Career Advice from Former Presidents

Top Career Advice from Former Presidents Feel like you need a bit of career inspiration? In honor of the upcoming President’s Day, you might enjoy these tidbits from former statesmen, great and†¦ less great. Their advice, however, is uniformly fabulous. So follow in their footsteps and achieve your dreams. Remember, some of these guys got to be the leader of the free world. â€Å"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.†This tidbit was offered by our first president, George Washington, to his niece in 1791. The emphasis here is on honesty and integrity. The takeaway: don’t be one of those people constantly making excuses for yourself. Only make them if they’re really good and really can honestly get you off the hook. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and vow to do better next time.â€Å"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.†This nugget is similar, but from Lincoln. And about how to look much smarter by not jumping into the conversat ion too quickly. If you don’t know enough of what you’re talking about to dazzle or contribute constructively, then sit back and listen until you do. You can’t take back stupid comments. Also, nobody loves the coworker who talks too much. Be like Lincoln and value brevity, directness, smarts.â€Å"If you treat people right they will treat you right†¦ 90 percent of the time.†This little gem comes from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Keep this in mind when you are networking. The Golden Rule is called that for a reason. Sometimes others won’t respond in kind, but for the most part, they will.â€Å"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.†This from Thomas Jefferson goes without explanation. We should all do better at following this advice.â€Å"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.†Thanks, for the motivation  Andrew Jackson. In other words: think before you act, but eventuall y you have to actually act. Don’t be afraid to jump once you’ve thought through the landing plan a few hundred times.â€Å"If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.†Teddy Roosevelt there. Remember, you can spend a whole lot of time blaming other people for your problems, but you cannot forget to ask yourself what part you had in where you are.â€Å"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all I can borrow.†Woodrow Wilson. Teamwork is dreamwork, baby.â€Å"If, when you get a job, you don’t believe you can get to the top in it, it’s the wrong job.†Reagan said this back in 1942. First, love what you do. Second, believe that it’s important and eventually everyone else will too. And third, don’t take any opportunities that aren’t going to let you soar (with hard work of course) straight to the top. Don’t set yourself up for anything less than total success.â€Å"To those of you [students] who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be President of the United States†George W. Bush knows that a little hustle and using what connections you have can lead to marvelous results. Just keep your nose down and work hard. A little blind faith in yourself can’t hurt either.â€Å"Worry less about what you want to be and more about what you want to do.†And from 44, Barack Obama, is  this gem. Sometimes it isn’t about being famous or important, it’s about choosing something that you believe in and devoting your career and life to that cause. Make it bigger than yourself and you might just end up doing major things.