Friday, January 07, 2005
On this day:

A Forgotten President

President Millard Fillmore was born on this day in 1800. I would guess that many Americans have probably never even heard of old Millard. Even if they have, they probably have very little idea of what he did. I'm in the latter category. So, here are a few facts that I learned from the Wikipedia article behind the link:
  • Fillmore was the last Whig President.
  • He served as Vice President under President Zachary Taylor until Taylor fell gravely ill in July of 1850, whereupon he became the President.
  • Unlike Taylor, Fillmore was a proponent of the Compromise of 1850 and signed it into law in September of 1850.
  • Fillmore was the nominee of the American Party, better known as the Know-Nothings, in 1856. He carried only the state of Maryland in that election.
  • Fillmore opposed President Lincoln throughout the Civil War, and supported Johnson during Reconstruction.