illiam H. Seward is known best for negotiating the purchase of Alaska in March 1867, known at the time as “Seward’s Folly.” Seward was also a devoted father of five children, a loyal husband, an ethical lawyer, a dedicated abolitionist, and Secretary of State for two presidents: Lincoln and Johnson. His name is often overlooked, but Seward did many notable acts in his life. He assisted Harriet Tubman by selling land to her in Auburn, New York, for her home. His house served as a post for the Underground Railroad. He believed in freedom and the Northern cause during the Civil War. Seward was almost killed on the night Lincoln was assassinated, as he was stabbed several times by Booth’s co-conspirator, Lewis Powell. Seward dedicated his life to the United States, and the people and causes he believed in.
William Henry Seward
W
Birth- 16/05/1801
Florida, Orange County, New York
Marriage- 20/10/1824-Age: 23 years
Frances Miller
Auburn, New York
Governor: To
31/12/1842
Governor: Place
Albany, NY
Governor: From
1/01/1839
Gender
Male
United States Senator: Representing
New Work
United States Senator: Place
Washington DC
United States Senator: From
4/03/1849
United States Senator: To
3/03/1861
Purchase of Alaska: Date
30/03/1867
Secretary of State: From
5/03/1861
Secretary of State: To
4/03/1869
Secretary of State: Place
Washington DC
Elected the first Whig Party governor of New York
1/01/1838
Delivers the “Higher Law” speech
1/01/1850
Elected to four-year term in New York State Senate
1/01/1830
Retires from the State Department
1/01/1869
Visits Europe with his father
1/01/1833
Serves as land agent for the Holland Land Company
1/01/1836
Sells 7 acres of land in Auburn to Harriet Tubman
1/01/1859
Travels around the world
Teaches for six months in Georgia
1/01/1819
Attacked in his bed by Lewis Powell
14/04/1865
Becomes U.S. Senator for New York
1/01/1849
Becomes a junior partner in Miller law firm
1/01/1823
Negotiates the purchase of Alaska from Russia
30/03/1867
Re-elected to the U.S. Senate
1/01/1854
Becomes Lincoln’s Secretary of State
1/01/1861
Graduates from Union College, trains for law
1/01/1820
Defends William Freeman using the insanity plea
1/01/1846
Accepted to the New York State Bar
1/01/1821
Joins sophomore class at Union College
1/01/1816
Death- 10/10/1872-Age: 71 years
Auburn, New York
Mother
Mary Jennings Seward
Father
Samuel Sweezy Seward
Augustus Henry Seward
1826-1876
Cornelia Seward
1836-1837
Frederick William Seward
1830-1915
Frances Adeline "Fanny" Seward
1844-1866
William Henry Seward, Jr.
1839-1920
Sources
The Purchase of Alaska
Andrew Johnson
Abraham Lincoln
Edwin M Stanton
Hannibal Hamlin
The Gettysburg Address
John Palmer Usher
The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Cabinet
William H Jr Seward
Forces War Records, William Henry Seward (https://nz.forceswarrecords.com/memorial/92827102/william-henry-seward/facts : accessed 29/04/2024), database and images, https://nz.forceswarrecords.com/memorial/92827102/william-henry-seward/facts