Happy 199th Birthday, Franklin Pierce!

[UrbScotty]

Pierce, D-NH, was the Fourteenth President of the United States, serving from 1853-1857.

Okay, so he wasn't the most spectacular Democrat to become President, and we have since had another person named Franklin lead our great country, but hey: one more year, we get to really throw a party for him!

http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=14

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Ah, the New Hampshire/Bowdoin College Boy... son of New England

And his presidency was so bad, he could not get re-nominate, as I recall.
That's Okay. He probably would have messed up somewhere and started the Civil War earlier than it did, and the North might have lost.

[Faygo Kid]

2. A tragic figure, a disastrous president

On his way to his inauguration, he and his family were involved in a train wreck. He and his wife, Jane, watched their only living child, Benjamin, aged 11, crushed between two cars in the wreck. He was the only casualty. Jane, who was private to the point of paranoia and hated public life, blamed Franklin for their son's death, citing his ambition. She never recovered. Pierce was pro-South all the way during his administration, vigorously enforcing the Fugitive Slave Laws. He blamed the Abolitionists exclusively for the Civil War after leaving office (despite his claims of supporting the Union), and became a hopeless alcoholic before his death. On the bright side, his lifelong best friend was Nathaniel Hawthorne. Overall, one of the saddest Presidents - in every sense - in American history.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. That's right... he and Hawthorne were at college together?

I had forgotten about that bit of triviata.

[Faygo Kid]

4. You should be ashamed.

Why, 90% of Americans know that - right? Actually, if 50% of Americans could put the Civil War in the right century, I would be thrilled. At this point, if 50% of Americans had even HEARD of the Civil War, I would be surprised. History buff here. So are you. Thanks for that. If Americans knew anything about their history, this president's approval rating would be about 8%. Thanks again.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. 8%? That is kind of high, don't ya think?

If people knew any 20th century history... real history, not media crap, his ratings would be 1-2% tops.

But, okay, with the benefit of the doubt, and considering how many idiots would have to be educated, I would love to see 8%.

You are welcome.

[JohnKleeb]

5. Yeah we're gonna throw a party for Pierce this time next year

:eyes: Are you out of your mind?
You know hes an ancestor of Barbara Bush, I aint celebrating Pierce.

[SiobhanClancy]

7. Must be a collateral ancestor..

since Pierce left no direct descendants. Perhaps thats where the alcoholism comes from...the Pierce line,rather than the Bush line.
Did you know that Pierce was arrested while in office for running over a woman with his horse? Charges ended up being dropped...no doubt he was drunk at the time:)

[JohnKleeb]

11. I heard about that I think

Yeah probably the Pierce line. Youre right though, Pierce left no direct descendents Clancy.

[maxanne]

8. we really are cursed

here in NH. ;(

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. they used to say when Pierce was President that he would

drink as long as the Old Man of The Mountain stood... well, I guess he stopped, huh?

[elperromagico]

10. Ol' Handsome Frank,

one of the procession of one-term presidents from Van Buren to Buchanan. Dreadful president (like most of the one-termers in that era), but I still look forward to his bicentennial next year. I've been kicking myself ever since I missed the Millard Fillmore Bicentennial Extravaganza in 2000.

[Yavin4]

12. He Was GrandUncle to Barbara Bush!!

Excerpt:
"President Franklin Pierce is Barbara Bush's third great uncle and therefore (she) is descended from Franklin Pierce's brother (??? Pierce b.abt.1785?) whose grandmother (Elizabeth b.1727/8) was a Merrill." Don Merrill's statement implies the Merrill ancestry listed above, which is incorrect. Don's source was a Prodigy genealogy bulletin board posting approximately 1994, from unknown sources.



http://www.bearhaven.com/family/cousin/barbara.html

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. He was before someone who knew what they were doing

read the family tree... from your link, further down the page...

" Barbara Bush's Pierce correct ancestry is as follows:

Thomas1 PIERCE 1583-4? -1666 m. Elizabeth WORTINGTON b.1595-6
Thomas2 PIERCE 1618-1683 m.1635 Elizabeth COLE d.1688
James3 PIERCE 1659-1742 m.(1)abt.1687 Elizabeth PARKER d.1715
James4 PIERCE 1690-1773 m.(2)bef.1711 Phebe UNKNOWN d.1776
Joshua5 PIERCE 1722-1771 m(2)1753 Esther RICHARDSON 1727-1819
James6 PIERCE 1768-1849 m.1795 Mary STACY 1774-1847
Gen. James7 PIERCE Jr. 1810-1874 m.1839 Chloe HOLBROOK 1816-1886
Jonas8 James PIERCE 1839-1913 m.1865 Kate PRITZEL 1841-1931
Scott9 PIERCE 1866-aft.1930 m.1891 Mabel MARVIN 1869-193?
Marvin10 PIERCE 1893-1969 m.(1)1918 Pauline ROBINSON 1896-1949
Barbara11 PIERCE 1925- m.1945 George Herbert Walker BUSH 1924-
George Walker BUSH 1946- m.1977 Laura WELCH 1946-

and President Franklin Pierce's ancestry is as follows:

Thomas1 PIERCE 1583-4? -1666 m. Elizabeth WORTINGTON b.1595-6
Thomas2 PIERCE 1618-1683 m.1635 Elizabeth COLE d.1688
Stephen3 PIERCE 1651-1733 m.1676 Tabitha PARKER d.1742
Stephen4 PIERCE 1679-1749 m.1707 Esther FLETCHER 1681-1767
Benjamin5 PIERCE 1726-1764 m.1746 Elizabeth MERRILL b.1727/8
Gen. Benjamin6 PIERCE 1757-1839 m.(2)1790 Anna KENDRICK 1768-1838
Pres. Franklin7 PIERCE 1804-1869 m.1834 Jane M. APPLETON 1806-1863

So Barbara PIERCE Bush 1925- is a fourth cousin four times removed (4C4R) of President Franklin PIERCE 1804-1869, and not a third great grandniece as reported by Don Merrill.

Since the latest common ancestor is Thomas2 PIERCE 1608-1683 who predates Elizabeth MERRILL b.1727/8, Barbara PIERCE Bush 1925- does not have (known) Merrill ancestors.