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 2044 Collections and/or Records:
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Otis P. Lord on behalf of Asa Andrews's case in which he was sued by the US Government in 1839 upon his official bond.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Henry Sherman imploring him to rescue the Whig party, as well as imploring him to assist in the revision of a book, he and Sherman had published in 1842, entitled "The Governmental History of the United States."
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from William Todd Otto inviting him to speak at a meeting in Philadelphia.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Zaccheus Collins Lee congratulating Webster on the successful negotiation of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Elihu Chauncy related to Webster's candidacy in the forthcoming presidential election and his popularity in Pennsylvania.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Rufus Choate asking Webster to examine the enclosed letters from Asa Andrews (Mss 851257) and Otis P. Lord (Mss 851255).
Daniel Webster letter
Letter to Webster from Asa Andrews soliciting his aid in obtaining a claim Andrews has against the Secretary of the Treasury.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Otis P. Lord to Lemuel Shaw, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, about a bill of exceptions and the proper use and effectiveness of legal terms and phrasings.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Leslie Combs to Webster reporting on the meeting with Henry Clay in New York.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Theron Metcalf to Daniel Webster regarding argument made by him and Webster in the case of Baker v. Fales in the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1820. The importance of this case lies in its inclusion within a body of precedential case-law affirming of the separation of church and state. Enclosed with the letter are two pages of notes on various precedents and readings of the statute of charitable uses.
Daniel Webster letter
Two page letter from Thomas Banks entitled "Great Pumpkins"in which he talks about seeing Daniel Webster giving an address at a train depot in Manchester.
Daniel Webster letter
Webster writes from Washington, D.C. to his farm manager John Taylor at the Elms, Franklin, New Hampshire, to pay J. W. Kelly twenty dollars in produce or cash.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to his brother Ezekiel Webster (1780-1829). Writer intends to bring home all information he can get about England's offer. Another bank project has been started. Writer hopes to be at Hopkinton court. He has practiced in the Supreme Court and greatly admires Marshall. The Yazoo bill has been passed. Mason is growing to be a great man. Includes notation of presentation of letter to Robert H. Parkinson from Frank W. Gunsaulus in 1916.
Daniel Webster letter
Friendly letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) with musings about their Dartmouth days and Hanover, NH. Includes typescript transcription of letter.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) inquiring about his health and his general well being. Includes typescript transcript of letter.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) voicing his relief that Bradley arrived safely in Concord and telling him about a dance Webster attended at school. Includes typescript transcript of letter.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) congratulating him on the marriage of his cousin and rejoices at Bradley's health. Includes typescript transcript of letter.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) regarding his current position in life (poverty) and his plans for the future (professional respectability) and asking Bradley for the advice he had promised to give. Typescript of the letter is also included.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) with musings on his poverty, hoping to be able to move to Boston but thinking about going into practice in Vermont. Webster promises to get Bradley's advice before making any decisions. Typescript transcript of letter is also included.
Daniel Webster letter
Letter from Daniel Webster (1782-1852) to Samuel Ayer Bradley (1801-1874) asking Bradley to forbear a suit against Mr. Simson until he hears from the writer. Typescript of letter is also included.