Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States and the last Whig President, was born January 7, 1800.
President Fillmore was a fascinating figure who does not get the attention his life and legacy deserves and there are plenty of people around who are still passionate about sharing information about him. You can learn more at Happy birthday, Millard Fillmore! 214 today, not looking a day over 117.
On Fillmore’s retirement, William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator had this to say on December 24, 1852:
When Millard Fillmore is forgotten by the American people, we shall have fallen upon evil times. But he will never be forgotten by the brave, the patriotic, the true. The foundations of his fame are laid in honor, patriotism, and truth, and can never be shaken. As long as parity of purpose: self-sacrificing devotion to country, the whole Union, and nothing but the Union; enlarged and pendent statesmanship; and absorbing desire to vindicate the honor and interests of the country in all intercourse with foreign nations; sagacious and farseeing recommendations to Congress in regard to internal policy; the expression of an inflexible determination to maintain the compromises of the Constitution, and execute the laws under the same; a fervid anxiety to unite all sections in bonds of fraternal affection, and to draw closer the ties which bind us together cemented by and baptized in the blood of our revolutionary ancestors so long, we say, as such deeds have an abiding place in the hearts of the freeman of this glorious land, the name of Millard Fillmore will be held in affectionate, undying remembrance.
We also learned that Twitter loves Millard Fillmore:
@accessarchives How will you celebrate Millard Fillmore's Birthday? http://t.co/LBFNMH4dyF
— Ed Darrell (@EdDarrell) January 7, 2014
Shivering mostly. And watching chick flicks. RT @EdDarrell: @accessarchives How will you celebrate Millard Fillmore's Birthday?
— Millard Fillmore (@fillmoremillard) January 7, 2014
@fillmoremillard @EdDarrell @accessarchives hey, he's my 5th cousin 5x removed. I should do something spectacular :-P
— Linda Metzger (@lindametzger) January 7, 2014
. @lindametzger @fillmoremillard @EdDarrell Do any of your current cousins look like Alec Baldwin? pic.twitter.com/xQMZ9BwR4o
— Accessible Archives (@accessarchives) January 7, 2014
@accessarchives @lindametzger @fillmoremillard @EdDarrell Wow. The resemblance is uncanny!
— NikkiFree (@NikkiFree) January 7, 2014
@lindametzger @fillmoremillard @accessarchives Read a book! Fillmore was self-educated, voracious reader. Fillmore's founded WH library.
— Ed Darrell (@EdDarrell) January 7, 2014
We hope you enjoyed Happy Birthday Millard Fillmore. Discover more great historical information at Accessible Archives Inc. - Primary Source Material from 18th & 19th Century Publications