Millard Filmore

Millard Filmore, a photo by soogle on Flickr.

  I have decided to teach the kids a little about each U.S. president this year.  Instead of going in order of service, I have chosen to go in birthday order.  So Lucky number 13, Millard Fillmore born this day in January 1800 is the first president we will study.

Fact Sheet

Millard Fillmore

13th President of U.S.

Whig Party

Born Jan 7th 1800

President from July 10th 1850 to March 4th 1853

Died March 8th 1874

Fillmore was preceded by Zachary Taylor ,who had died in office and succeeded by Franklin Pierce.

The most significant event of the Fillmore Presidency was the passage and enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.  While Fillmore was personally opposed slavery, he championed this legislation because He thought it was in the best interest of perserving the Union which was divided by the issue.  So much so that both Northerners and Southeners threatened succesion from the Union during the Taylor presidency.

Millard Fillmore and his wife Abigail shared a passion for books.  They are credited for bringing the first library into the White House. 

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