LI \'LS OF TIlE P1IES1DEN'rs N IiEi) STA1'EOF A\I ERICA, tS1lI'N Tu riu: PHi-:ENI' TIMI:. A AHITV OI un: MT 1F E"TI6 vrrs TN THE Ii' i:uu 1 SHENT cSTiTrrINr A G{tPIHC IITOi1 OF in,: U1iU) STTES. trr ntTu ci tbr Utzthr. It JOflN S. C. AURI.) RUSSELL H. cONWELL IL*rY*T*n %*?n p*t*r'r A4t F tIDtt nc-r-rne ?UIT* rxcttRrTr%rT... 1!cI) TU1*TY *fltlE WOOl) or tt*ror i z -nri* Ut,; I?ON$ Or Tfl CtUL. .VtLL SOLD ONLY BY DISTRiBUTING ,fGENIS'. POTLAD ME.: IL HALLETT AND COMPANY. 1882. PREFACE. THERE are few persons who can read this record of the Lives of the Presidents of the United States without the conviction, that there is no other nation which can present a consecutive series of twenty rulers of equal excellence of character and administrative ability.Probably the least worthy of all our presidents would rank among the best of the kings whom the accident of birth has placed upon hereditary thrones; and not an individual has popular suf- frage elevated to the presidential chair, whom one would think of ranking with those many royal monsters who have in turn disgraced all the courts of Europe.This record settles the question, that popular suffrage, in the choice of rulers, is a far safer reliance than hereditary descent. With ns, the freedom of the press is so unlimited, and political partisanship so intense, that few persons have been able to take realty an impartial view of the characters of those who have been by one party so inordinately lauded, and by the other so intemperately assailed.But, as we now dispassionately review the past, most readers will probably find many old prejudices dispelled In writing these sketches, the authors have endeavored to be thoroughly impartial, and to place themselves in the position which the subject of the sketch occupied, so as to look from his stand-point upon the gre'tt questions which he was called to consider.John Adams and Thomas Jef- ferson were in political antagonism; but no man can read a true record of their lives, and not be convinced that both were mspired with the noblest zeal to promote the best interests of their country ird of the hum'm rice The writers have not thought that impirtiility requires that they should refrain from a frank expressIon of their own views It is an essential pait of biography, that faults 4 PREFACE. as well as virtues should be honestly detailed.No man is perfect. There have certainly been errors and wrong-doings in the past administration of this government.It is not the duty of the impartial historical biographer to ignore such, or to gloss them over.They should be distinctly brought to light as instruction for the future. The materials from which the writers have drawn these biographical sketches are very abundant.Whatever of merit they possess must consist mainly in the skill which may he exhibited in selecting from the great mass those incidents whichwill give one the most vivid conception of the individual.The writers have attempted, with much labor, to present a miniature likeness of each character which shall be faithful and striking.If they have failed, they ca.n only say that they have honestly done their best. They have not deemed itexpedient to incumber these pages with foot-notes as most of the important facts here stated, it is believed, are unquestioned; and all will be found substantiated in the memoirs and works,more or less voluminous, of our Chief Magistrates, contained in most of our large libraries. - Since the principal portion of this book was written, the celebrated author, John S. C. Abbott, has passed on to hi eternal home.But he will long live on, as one of earth's moral powers, in the hearts of thousands of sincere friends, and in the numerous thrilling volumes of historr and biography which he has written. RtssEu H. CmwELt.. CONTENTS. CHAPTER 1. GEORGE WASRINGTON. Ancestry. - Birth and Childhood. - The Youthful Engineer. - Life in the Wilderness. - War with the Indians.Domestic Griefs. The French ',Var..Heroism at Brad- dock's Defeat. - Marriage. - Mount Vernon. - Domestic Habits. - Revolution. - Patriotism. - Commander-in-Chief. - Expulsion of the British from Boston. - Bat- tles. - Seif-Sacritice. - Alliance with France. - Capture of Cornwallis. - Close of the War. - Chosen President. - Retirement. - Life at Mount Vernon. - Sickness and Death 9 CHAPTER II. JoltS ADAMS. Ancestry. - His Boyhood. - Marriage. - Defense of the Soldiers. - Patriotism. - The Continental Congress. Energy of Mrs. Adams. - The Appointment of Washington. - The Declaration of Independence. -Delegate to France. - Adams and Franklin. Franklin and Voltaire. - Mission to Holland. - The French Court. Mission to England. - Presidential Career. - Last Days and Death CHAPTER III. TUOMAS JEFFERSON. Birth and Childhood. - CollegeLife. - A Law Student. Marriage. - Estate at Monti- cello.The Continental Congress. Governor of Virginia.Death of his Wife. Letters to his Children. - Minister to France. - Interest iii the French Revolution. - P.eturns to America. Secretary of State. - Monarchical Sentiments. .Letters. - IS eary of Office. - Vice-President - President. - Inaugural. - Stormy Administra- tion. - Scenes at Monticello. - Death 97. CHAPTER IV. JAMES MADISON. Childhood. - College Life. Enters Public Life. - Framing the Constitution. - In Con- gress. - Marriaire. - Mrs. Madison. - Secretary of State. - The White House. - Friendship with Jefferson. - Chosen President. - Right of Search. - War with Eng- land. - Reilected. - Treaty of Ghent. - Old Age and Death .....14S CHAPTER V. JAMES MONROE. Parentage and Birth.Edncation.Enters the Army.A LegLslator.A Sentcr.- Mission to France. - l3onaparte. - Colonel Monroe, Governor. - Secretary both of War and of State. - Elected to the Presidency. Nor.bern Tour.The Monroe Due- trine. - Retirement and Death 69 CHAPTER VI. JOUR QGL5CT AflA)tS. Birth and CijU&jhood.Edin in Europc.Prirate Seeretary.Harrard College: - Studies Law. Minister to the NetherlandsOther Missions. - Return to America. - 3lassachusetta Senate. - National House of Representatives. - Professor of Rhetoric. - Mission to Russia. - Secretary of State. - President. - Retirement. - House of - Death CHAPTER VII. ASDlW JACxSON. Birth and Education ABadBoy Keeps &hool Stuthes Law .Emigrate Frri tier life. Low Tastes. A Representative. - Senator. Judge. - hopkeeper - Major-General Quarrel.s and Duels Marriage and itS Romance - Figtit with the Bentous.War with the lu I Defenso ofew Qrlean Pas_jon and ' - ktce. - President of the tuited States. - Cdriveranin. Death .......207 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. ILtRYIN VAN BORES. PAGE Birth and Childhood. - Studies Lair. - Success as a Lawyer and Politician. Secretary of State. - Mrs. Eaton. - Minister to England. - Rejected by the Senate. - Attains the Vice-Presidency. - Chosen President. - Retirement . 241 CHAPTER IX. WILLIAM HENRY hARRISON. Birth and Ancestry. - Enters United States Am7. - Sent to Congress. - Governor of In- diana Territory. - Battle of Tippecanoe. - W ar with Great Britain. - Perplexities and Labors. - The British repulsed. - Tecumseh slain. - Elected President. - Death . 253 CHAPTER X. JOHN TYLER. His Parentage.Education and Scholarship. - Early Distinction.- Success at the Bar and in Political Life. - Democratic Principles. - ('ourse in the Senate.- Elected Vice- President. - Accession to the Presidency. - Joins in the Rebellion. Death . 274 CHAPTER XI. JAMES KNOX POLK. Ancestry of Mr. Polk. His Early Distinction.- His Success as a Lawyer. Tn con- gress. - Speaker in the House. - Governor of Tennessee. - Candidate for the Pres- idency. - Mexican War. - Retirement. - Sickness.- Death 284 CHAPTER XII. ZACHARY TAYLOR Birth, Emigration to Kentucky. Neglected Education. Enters the Army. Battles with the Indians. - Campaign in Florida. - The Mexican War. - Palo Alto. - DeathResaca de Ia Palma. - Monterey.....................299 - Buena Vista. - The Presidency. - Sufferings. - CHAPTER XIII. MILLARD FILLMORE. Lowly Birth. - Struggles. - Limited Education. - Eagerness for Intellectual Improve- ment. - A Clothier. - A Law Student. - Commencement of Practice. - Rapid Fuse. - In TheCongrcs. - Vice-President.Civil - WarPresident. - His ..............324 Administration. - Retirement. CHAPTER XIV. FHA'SKLIV FIErCE Character of his Father His Promi e In Boyhood - College Life Political Views - Success as a Lawyer. - Entrance upon Public Life. - Service in the Mexican War. - Landing in Mexico. March through the Country. The Presidency. - Retirement . 332 CHAPTER XV. JAMES BrçHA1eAS. His Chi!dhoods Home. - Devotion to Study.Pnrity of Character. Congresional festo.Career - Secretary - Presidency. of St'ite Minister toRetirement the Court of St James ............352- 0 tend Mani- CHAPTER XVI. ABRAHAM traCoLic. Life in a Log C'ibin A Par Laborer A Boatman - \ Shop-Keeper A Studert - A Leilator. A Lawyer. - A ifember ot Con tre'q. - The Debate with Doug- las. The Prsideucy. Habits of Temperance. His Assaasinatiun . 375 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. .&DREW JOILNSOr. PAGE His Lowly Origin. - Struggles - State Representative. - State Senator. - Congress. - Governor. - United States Senator. - Opposition to Secession. - Military governor of Tennessee. - Vice-President. - President.Conflict with Congress. - His Policy 436 CHAPTER XVIII. ULYSSES S. GSiANT. Birth and Childhood. - At West Point. - On the Frontiers. Mexican War. - Battle of Belmont. - Capture of Fort Donelson. - Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing. - Siege of Vicksburg. - Campaign of Chattanooga. - Lieutenant-General. - Campaign of the Wilderness. Capture of Lee's Army.