Skip to main content Skip to search results Skip to Facets & Filters

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 2089 Collections and/or Records:

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 847519
Webster Mss 847519
Date(s): 1847-09-19
Scope and Contents

Four-page letter from Daniel Webster in Marshfield, Massachusetts to Mrs. Josephine Hosmer in Concord, Massachusetts, telling her that he will be happy to do what he can for her and hopes to be able to go to Concord soon.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 847265
Webster Mss 847265
Date(s): 1847-04-15
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in Washington, DC to an unnamed recipient asking for a full account of the proceedings of the Senate.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 841352
Mss 841352
Date(s): 1841-06-02
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster to John Agg, telling him tha he would like to see addressee about the "Biennial register."

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 841424.1
Webster Mss 841424.1
Date(s): 1841-07-24
Scope and Contents

Two-page letter from Daniel Webster to William Leigh Brent, telling him that he has communicated his request to the President, but cannot respond to his second request. )Photocopy)(Filed with Mss 841429.1)

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 842266
Webster Mss 842266
Date(s): 1842-04-16
Scope and Contents

Three-page letter from Daniel Webster in Washington to Governor Davis in Boston, Massachusetts in which he comments on Gov. Davis' recent Resolves and discusses current legislation concerning Maine and Massachusetts and speaks of a boundary issue.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 843203
Webster Mss 843203
Date(s): 1843-03-03
Scope and Contents

Three-page letter from Daniel Webster to John Tyler, telling him that he wishes to put in writing this advice: Do not sign the Bankrupt Repeal Bill. If the bankrupt law be not repealed, it will be a disgrace to our statutes. If Webster were President, the bill woild lie upon his table and Congress would reconsider a year hence. (Photocopy)

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 844328
Webster Mss 844328
Date(s): 1844-05-28
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in New York to Nathaniel F. Williams in Baltimore, in which he encloses a draft for $1200 and makes arrangements to draw on Williams again. Enclosure missing.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 817340.2
Mss 817340.2
Date(s): 1817-05
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in Boston to Ezekiel Webster in Boscawen, NH, telling him that he wants Ezekiel to come to Boston next week. Writer has a chance to dispose of some real estate and wants Ezekiel's advice. Ezekiel is to bring estimates of the value of the Grafton, NH land.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 818408.1
Webster Mss 818408.1
Date(s): 1818-07-04
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in Boston to Ezekiel Webster in Boscawen, telling him that he has completed the purchase of the Salisbury lands from Mr. Sullivan and an hour later Mr. S. discovered he had mistaken the price. Mr. Talford has given the writer $300 from Ezekiel.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 818419
Webster Mss 818419
Date(s): 1818-07-19
Scope and Contents

Letter from Daniel Webster in Boston to Ezekiel Webster in Boscawen, telling him that Henry came for Mrs. Webster yesterday and that he took her to Billerica. Writer would like Ezekiel to bring her back to Boston with him.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 818617
Webster Mss 818617
Date(s): 1818-11-17
Scope and Contents

Letter pertaining to the Dartmouth College Case (Trustees of Dartmouth College v. William H. Woodward ). Hopkinson discusses the possibility that the trustees will retain William Pinkney to make new arguments before the Supreme Court. He notes the mutual respect among opposing counsel in the case.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
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

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 820467
Webster Mss 820467
Date(s): 1820-08-17
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 822113
Webster Mss 822113
Date(s): 1822-01-13
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 830681.1
Webster Mss 830681.1
Date(s): 1830-12-31
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 833168
Webster Mss 833168
Date(s): 1833-02-18
Scope and Contents

Two-page letter from Daniel Webster in Washington to Mr. Hiram Ketchum, regarding political matters, tariff and various men active in Congress, Clay and Harrison etc.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 833104
Webster Mss 833104
Date(s): 1833-01-04
Scope and Contents

Four-page letter from Daniel Webster in Washington, DC to Warren Dutton in Boston with news of the members of the Supreme Court, the Bridge cause, the protective system and nullification.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 802357
Webster Mss 802357
Date(s): 1802-06-07
Abstract

In English.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 826129
Webster Mss 826129
Date(s): 1826-01-29
Scope and Contents

Four-page letter from Daniel Webster in Washington to Ezekiel Webster with political news.

Daniel Webster letter

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 836673
Webster Mss 836673
Date(s): 1836-12-23
Scope and Contents

Three-page letter from Daniel Webster in Washington to Edward Curtis in which he reminds Curtis that acceptance of his debt falls due shortly and asks him to send money to his partner, Kinsman. Senate has broken up Woodbury's order (known as the Specie Circular). "Mr. Rives amendment was not a mode of avoiding what seemed censure on the President."

Back to top