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 2046 Collections and/or Records:
Washington, D.C. to Mr. [Richard] Frothingham [Boston, MA], Letter
Webster writes to Mr. Frothingham, regarding his fear of President Jackson's reaction to a French refusal to pay its debt.
Also includes a separate engraving of Webster.
Washington [D.C.], to Mr. [William?] Ayers, Letter
Supposed fair copy. Writing in confidence concerning the selection of President-elect William Henry Harrison's Cabinet.
Washington [DC], To Mr.[Nicholas] Biddle , Letter
Asks that Mr. Caswell be better paid. He requests that the letter be read March 21 and referred to the committee on the offices.
Washington, [D.C.], [to Nicholas Biddle?]., Letter
Asks that Biddle peruse a letter of U.S. Representative Russell's for a favorable opinion of Mr. Comstock.
Washington, [D.C.], to Peter Harvey, Letter
Will meet Boston friends in New York to confer.
Washington [DC], To Philadelphia Young Men's Society, Letter
Webster writes to the Committee of the Philadelphia Young Men's Society (W. M. Muzzey, Lewis R. Ashhurst, Hu. Elliot, S. Caldwell, Isaac Hazlehurst) declining an invitation to their first anniversary celebration.
Washington, D.C., to Robert Field Stockton [Princeton, New Jersey], Letter
Just two weeks after his controversial "Seventh of March" speech in the Senate supporting Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850, Daniel Webster sends a copy of his address to Commodore Robert Stockton, who played an integral part in the conquest of California during the Mexican-American War.
Washington, [D.C.], to Samuel Thurlow, Letter
Discusses logistics surrounding Thurlow's court case.
Washington, [D.C.], to the Governor of Ohio [Joseph Vance], Letter
States he is mailing copies of the Act, of the 1st Superior, 31st, Congress to Ohio.
Washington Irving letter
In English.
Washington to Col. [James Watson] Webb, Letter
Webster writes to Col. Webb concerning the editing of a bill Webster planned to introduce in the Senate.
Washington to Edward Brook, Esq. [Boston], Letter
Webster writes his thanks for being solicited for a subscription to a paper.
Washington to Honorable [Hannibal] Hamlin, Letter
To then Senator Hannibal Hamlin, introducing a friend, Tilden Ames, who was lobbying for navigational improvements to the North River in Marshfield, MA.
Washington to Mr. Meredth, Letter
Webster sends regrets he cannot dine with Mr. Meredith on Christmas day due to arrival of his wife in town.
[Washington] to Richard M. Blatchford [New York], Letter
Writes of the weather, his new wagon, and that he is occupied with Central American Affairs.
[Washington] to Richard M. Blatchford [New York], Letter
Writes of his pending work for the day including the Thrasher case and the "supposed treaty between England, France and Spain."
[Washington] to Richard M. Blatchford [New York], Letter
Writes that he has decided on a "course of conduct... toward [Lajos] Kossuth" as well as discussing financial matters and informing Blatchford that he may read his reply to the House on the Thrasher case.
[Washington] to [Sen.]Daniel S. Dickinson, Letter
Webster writes to Daniel S. Dickinson that despite his initial misgivings for the man, as the two leave for break, Webster was impressed by Dickinson's work in the Senate during the session.
Wells, Gelston and Porter bill
In English.
William Alexander Graham letter
In English.