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William H. Seward Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0859

  • Staff Only

In this letter, William Seward declines an invitation to address the Citizens of Rhode Island on the grounds that he has been away from home for nine months and his family, affairs, and health all require him to return there as soon as he can leave the Capital.

Dates

  • 1856 August 20

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

In this letter, William Seward declines an invitation to address the Citizens of Rhode Island on the grounds that he has been away from home for nine months and his family, affairs, and health all require him to return there as soon as he can leave the Capital.

Biographical/Historical Note

William Henry Seward was born to Samuel and Mary (Jennings) Seward in Florida, New York on May 16, 1801. He graduated from Union College in 1820 and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1822. He married Frances Miller on October 10, 1824, and the couple had five children. Seward practiced law in Auburn, New York before becoming involved in politics. He served as a member of the New York Senate (1830-1834) and as the Governor of New York (1838-1842) before representing New York in the United States Senate (1849-1861). In 1860, Abraham Lincoln appointed Seward Secretary of State. He served until 1869, during which time he advocated war with Spain and France to solidify the United States, protested against the outfitting of Confederate privateers in British ports, purchased Alaska (which, due to public opposition, was nicknamed Seward's Folly and Seward's ice-box) from Russia for $7,200,000, and unsuccessfully attempted to acquire two islands in the Danish West Indies and annex Hawaii. Seward died in Auburn on October 15, 1872 and is buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Acquisition Note

The University of Tennessee Libraries, Knoxville, Special Collections purchased this collection in 1975.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480