Daniel Webster

**Daniel Webster** (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an important American statesman. He first became famous because of his defense of New England shipping interests. Later in his life, he became more and more nationalistic and convinced many other people. That made him one of the most famous orators and powerful Whig leaders of the Second Party System.

Webster did not like slavery but thought that it had had to be tolerated for the country to allow the country to stay together. He always supported national unity and harmony against various divisive schemes.

Webster became the northern member of a group known as the "Great Triumvirate," which included his colleagues Henry Clay from the West and John C. Calhoun from the South. Webster's "Reply to Hayne" in 1830 was generally seen as "the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress."

Webster tried to keep the country from civil war and keep a firm peace. His efforts did not succeed, but he is still respected for them. He was officially named by the Senate in 1957 as one of its five best members.

## Early life

Webster was born on January 18, 1782. His parents were Ebenezer and Abigail Webster (née Eastman) in Salisbury, New Hampshire, which is now part of the city of Franklin. He and his nine siblings grew up on his parents' farm. His great-great-grandfather was Thomas Webster (1631–1715), who was born in Ormesby St. Margaret, Norfolk, England, and settled in New Hampshire. As Daniel was a "sickly child," his family often let him have whatever he wanted and did not make him work on the farm.

## Career

Webster became a lawyer and politician. He was elected to Congress as a Federalist. He supported free trade, opposed both abolitionism and the expansion of slavery, and opposed the War of 1812 and the other Democratic-Republican policies.

When the Federalist Party declined, he joined with other former Federalists and National Republicans to form the Whig Party.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Daniel Webster
- **image**: DanielWebster ca1847 Whipple 2403624668-crop.jpg
- **imagesize**: 245px
- **caption**: Daguerreotype of Senator Webster circa 1847
- **order**: 14th United States Secretary of State
- **term start**: March 6, 1841
- **term end**: May 8, 1843
- **president**: William Henry Harrison
John Tyler
- **predecessor**: John Forsyth (politician), John Forsyth
- **successor**: Abel P. Upshur
- **order2**: 19th United States Secretary of State
- **term start2**: July 23, 1850
- **term end2**: October 24, 1852
- **president2**: Millard Fillmore
- **predecessor2**: John M. Clayton
- **successor2**: Edward Everett
- **order3**: United States Senator from Massachusetts
- **term start3**: June 8, 1827
- **term end3**: February 22, 1841
- **predecessor3**: Elijah H. Mills
- **successor3**: Rufus Choate
- **term start4**: March 4, 1845
- **term end4**: July 22, 1850
- **predecessor4**: Rufus Choate
- **successor4**: Robert C. Winthrop
- **state5**: Massachusetts
- **term start5**: March 4, 1823
- **term end5**: May 30, 1827
- **preceded5**: Benjamin Gorham
- **succeeded5**: Benjamin Gorham
- **state6**: New Hampshire
- **district6**: New Hampshire's At-large congressional district, At-large
- **term start6**: March 4, 1813
- **term end6**: March 3, 1817
- **preceded6**: George Sullivan (representative), George Sullivan
- **succeeded6**: Arthur Livermore
- **birth place**: Salisbury, New Hampshire, Salisbury, New Hampshire
- **death place**: Marshfield, Massachusetts, Marshfield, Massachusetts
- **party**: United States Federalist Party, Federalist
National Republican Party (United States), National Republican
Whig Party (United States), Whig
- **spouse**: Grace Fletcher Webster
Caroline LeRoy Webster
- **alma mater**: Dartmouth College
- **profession**: Politician, Lawyer
- **signature**: Daniel Webster Signature.svg