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Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

 

Dates

  • Existence: 1782 - 1852

Biography

Daniel Webster was born on January 18, 1872 in Salisbury, New Hampshire. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801, after which he began the study of law under Thomas W. Thompson and Christopher Gore. In 1805, he opens a law practice in Boscawen, New Hampshire where he stayed there until 1807. As a result of his opposition to the War of 1812, Webster is elected to the New Hampshire House of Representative in 1813 where he served until 1817. In 1816, he moves to Boston and is elected to the Massachusetts House of Representative (1823-1827) and the Senate (1827-1841 and 1845-1850). As a senator, he was a spokesman for American nationalism with powerful oratory that made him a key Whig leader. He spoke for conservatives and led the opposition to Democrat Andrew Jackson and his Democratic Party, firmly challenging Jackson's policies in the Bank War. From 1841 to 1843 and 1850 to 1852, Webster served as the United States Secretary of State. As a diplomat, he is best known for negotiating the Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842 with Great Britain which established the Canada–United States border east of the Rocky Mountains. As a lawyer, Webster was highly regarded in the courtroom, shaping several key US Supreme Court cases that established important constitutional precedents and bolstered the authority of the federal government. One of the cases he argued was the Dartmouth College case in 1819. The case arose when the president of Dartmouth College was deposed by its trustees, leading to the New Hampshire legislature attempting to force the college to become a public institution and thereby place the ability to appoint trustees in the hands of the governor of New Hampshire. The Supreme Court upheld the sanctity of the original charter of the college, which pre-dated the creation of the State. The landmark case is considered one of the most important in United States history as it affirmed that the Constitution's contract clause protected private corporations from government interference. Webster died October 24, 1852.

Found in 2093 Collections and/or Records:

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 817119.1
Webster Mss 817119.1
Date(s): 1817-01-19
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 805390
Webster Mss 805390
Date(s): 1805-06
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 805428
Webster Mss 805428
Date(s): 1805-07-28
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 805615.1
Webster Mss 805615.1
Date(s): 1805-11-15
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 805665
Webster Mss 805665
Date(s): 1805-12-15
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834221
Webster Mss 834221
Date(s): 1834-03-21
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834305
Webster Mss 834305
Date(s): 1834-05-05
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834315
Webster Mss 834315
Date(s): 1834-05-15
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834321
Webster Mss 834321
Date(s): 1834-05-21
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834357
Webster Mss 834357
Date(s): 1834-06-07
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834361
Webster Mss 834361
Date(s): 1834-06-11
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834364
Webster Mss 834364
Date(s): 1834-06-14
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834380
Webster Mss 834380
Date(s): 1834-06-30
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 834401
Webster Mss 834401
Date(s): 1834-07-01
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 819330
Webster Mss 819330
Date(s): 1819-05-30
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 819360
Webster Mss 819360
Date(s): 1819-06-10
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 819363
Mss 819363
Date(s): 1819-06-13
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in Boston to Ezekiel Webster in Boscawen, telling him that he expects to go to Rhode Island tomorrow to be gone three days. Hope Ezekiel can visit them before July.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 819402
Webster Mss 819402
Date(s): 1819-07-02
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 810477
Webster Mss 810477
Date(s): 1810-08-27
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 810510
Webster Mss 810510
Date(s): 1810-09-10
Abstract

In English.

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