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 May 1801
Florida, Orange County, New York
Marriage- 20 Oct 1824-Age: 23 years
Frances Miller
Auburn, New York
Governor: To
31 Dec 1842
Governor: Place
Albany, NY
Governor: From
1 Jan 1839
Gender
Male
United States Senator: Representing
New Work
United States Senator: Place
Washington DC
United States Senator: From
4 Mar 1849
United States Senator: To
3 Mar 1861
Purchase of Alaska: Date
30 Mar 1867
Secretary of State: From
5 Mar 1861
Secretary of State: To
4 Mar 1869
Secretary of State: Place
Washington DC
Elected the first Whig Party governor of New York
1 Jan 1838
Delivers the “Higher Law” speech
1 Jan 1850
Elected to four-year term in New York State Senate
1 Jan 1830
Retires from the State Department
1 Jan 1869
Visits Europe with his father
1 Jan 1833
Serves as land agent for the Holland Land Company
1 Jan 1836
Sells 7 acres of land in Auburn to Harriet Tubman
1 Jan 1859
Travels around the world
Teaches for six months in Georgia
1 Jan 1819
Attacked in his bed by Lewis Powell
14 Apr 1865
Becomes U.S. Senator for New York
1 Jan 1849
Becomes a junior partner in Miller law firm
1 Jan 1823
Negotiates the purchase of Alaska from Russia
30 Mar 1867
Re-elected to the U.S. Senate
1 Jan 1854
Becomes Lincoln’s Secretary of State
1 Jan 1861
Graduates from Union College, trains for law
1 Jan 1820
Defends William Freeman using the insanity plea
1 Jan 1846
Accepted to the New York State Bar
1 Jan 1821
Joins sophomore class at Union College
1 Jan 1816
Death- 10 Oct 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://uk.forceswarrecords.com/memorial/92827102/william-henry-seward/facts : accessed 29 Apr 2024), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/memorial/92827102/william-henry-seward/facts