William Henry Seward
| William H. Seward | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 24th United States Secretary of State | |
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In office March 5, 1861 – March 4, 1869 |
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| President |
Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | Jeremiah S. Black |
| Succeeded by | Elihu B. Washburne |
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United States Senator from New York |
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In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | John Adams Dix |
| Succeeded by | Ira Harris |
| 12th Governor of New York | |
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In office January 1, 1839 – December 31, 1842 |
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| Lieutenant | Luther Bradish |
| Preceded by | William L. Marcy |
| Succeeded by | William C. Bouck |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Henry Seward May 16, 1801 Florida, New York |
| Died | October 10, 1872 (aged 71) Auburn, New York |
| Political party | Anti-Masonic, Whig, Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Adeline Seward |
| Children |
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| 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 was a farmer and owned slaves. He was educated as a lawyer and moved 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 gubernatorial nominee of the Whig Party. Though he was not successful in that race, Seward was elected governor in 1838 and won a second two-year term in 1840. During this period, he signed several laws that advanced the rights and opportunities for black residents, as well as guaranteeing fugitive slaves jury trials in the state. The legislation protected abolitionists, and he used his position to intervene in cases of freed black people who were enslaved in the South.
After several years of 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, worked against him and Abraham Lincoln secured the presidential nomination. Although devastated by his loss, he campaigned for Lincoln, who was elected and appointed him Secretary of State.
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