PRESIDENTS DAY
Born: January 7, 1800 in Cayuga County, New York.
Education: Attended country schools, taught himself law.
Occupation: Lawyer, politician.
Regilion: Unitarian.
Family life:Married Abigail Powers in February 1826; they had a son and a daughter. She developed pneumonia; she died in Washington on March 30, 1853, her family took her body home to Buffalo for burial. He remarried to Caroline McIntosh in 1858.
Political career:Served in New York state assembly; then in Congress, 1833-35 and 1837-43. Ran as a Whig for governor of New York in 1844. Elected vice-president in 1848; became president upon Taylor's death, but not renominated. As the Whig Party disintegrated in the 1850's, Fillmore refused to join the Republican Party; but, instead, in 1856 accepted the nomination for President of the Know Nothing, or American, Party.
Highlights of his presidency: Tried to steer a middle course between the pro-slavery forces to preserve the Union.
Appearance: Medium height, fair, and blue eyed.
Died: He died in 1874.
Buried: Buffalo, New York, where President Fillmore lies buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
