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William H. Seward

William H. Seward
William H. Seward portrait - restoration.jpg
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
United States Senator
from New York
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by John Adams Dix
Succeeded by Ira Harris
12th 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
Personal details
Born William Henry Seward
(1801-05-16)May 16, 1801
Florida, New York
Died October 10, 1872(1872-10-10) (aged 71)
Auburn, New York
Political party Anti-Masonic, Whig, Republican
Spouse(s) Frances Adeline Seward
Children
Alma mater Union College
Profession Lawyer, Land Agent, Politician
Religion Episcopalian
Signature

William Henry Seward (May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872) was United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869, and earlier served as Governor of New York and United States Senator. A determined opponent of the spread of slavery in the years leading up to the American Civil War, he was a dominant figure in the Republican Party in its formative years, and was generally praised for his work on behalf of the Union as Secretary of State during the American Civil War.

Seward was born in southeastern New York, where his father, a farmer, owned slaves. He became educated as a lawyer, moving to the Central New York town of Auburn. Seward was elected to the New York State Senate in 1830 as an Anti-Mason. Four years later, he became the Whig Party's gubernatorial nominee. Though he was not successful in that race, Seward was elected governor in 1838, winning a second two-year term in 1840. During this period, he signed several laws advancing the rights and opportunities for black residents, as well as guaranteeing fugitive slaves jury trials in the state, protecting abolitionists, and using his position to intervene in cases of free blacks enslaved in the South.

After several years practicing law in Auburn, he was elected by the state legislature to the U.S. Senate in 1849. Seward's strong stances and provocative words against slavery brought him hatred in the South. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1855, and soon joined the nascent Republican Party, becoming one of its leading figures. As the 1860 presidential election approached, he was regarded as the leading candidate for the Republican nomination. Several factors, including attitudes to his vocal opposition to slavery, his support for immigrants and Catholics, and his association with editor and political boss Thurlow Weed, combined to defeat him, as Abraham Lincoln secured the nomination. Although devastated by his loss, he campaigned for Lincoln, who was elected, and who appointed him Secretary of State.


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