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| Jane Pierce |
Early Life
Jane Appleton was born in the town of Hampton, New Hampshire on March 12, 1806. She came from a family of six children - herself being the third eldest daughter, born to Jesse Appleton (a Congregationalist minister) and his wife Elizabeth.
When her father was appointed as president of Bowdoin College in 1807, the family relocated to Brunswick, Maine, which at the time was part of Massachusetts. Sadly, her father's religious fasting practices had a negative impact on his health and he passed away in 1819.
Growing up in the Appleton household, Jane developed a strong Puritan, evangelical, and Calvinist religious devotion. Following her father's passing, the family moved in with her grandmother in Amherst, New Hampshire.
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| President Franklin Pierce |
Marriage & Family
Apple and Franklin Pierce got to know each other after he relocated to Amherst for his law studies at Bowdoin. Their first meeting might have happened during a thunderstorm or through an introduction by Jane's brother-in-law, Alpheus Packard, who was also Franklin's professor. Some say she met him at her mother's house. However, her family was against their relationship due to their class difference, Franklin's manners, drinking habits, support of slavery, religious beliefs, and political ambitions. Despite these issues, they had a seven-year courtship, which continued even when Franklin moved to Hillsborough, New Hampshire to practice law and partake in the New Hampshire General Court. They tied the knot in a private ceremony on November 19, 1834, at the time when Franklin was a member of the House of Representatives. They were seen as quite different, with Jane's introverted and depressive nature contrasting with Franklin's outgoing and ambitious personality.
After their wedding, the couple traveled to Washington, D.C., but Jane didn't like the city. She even met President Andrew Jackson at the White House New Year's Day reception in 1835 but decided to leave the city that same year and returned to her mother's house in Amherst, while Franklin stayed back in Washington. The couple later bought a house in Hillsborough, where Jane preferred to live when Franklin was away. They relocated to Concord, New Hampshire in 1838 when Franklin became a senator. Jane urged him to resign and retire from politics in 1842. Jane disliked politics, which caused a strain in their relationship as Franklin's political career progressed. Despite their political differences, they had a warm relationship and kept in touch through letters when they were apart.
Franklin and Jane had three sons, all of whom tragically passed away during childhood. Franklin Jr., born in 1836, died just three days after his birth. Frank Robert, born in 1839, died from epidemic typhus at the age of four in 1843. Lastly, Benjamin, born in 1841, lost his life in a train accident at the age of 11 in 1853.
After Franklin's tenure in the Senate ended, the family led a more domestic life, with Franklin supporting them through his law practice. He did, however, briefly serve as a brigadier general in the Mexican–American War. This period is often seen as the happiest in Jane's life as Franklin was away from politics and she still had two of her sons with her.
They sold their house during the war and lived in various places thereafter. Franklin was offered the position of United States Attorney General by President James K. Polk, but he declined due to Jane's disapproval. After the death of their second son, Jane focused on raising Benjamin, their only surviving child, in a strict religious environment while Franklin continued his law practice.
First Ladies of the United States
Jane Pierce was not fond of political life and was uncomfortable in the role of first lady. Despite her strong religious beliefs and an aversion to politics, she found herself drawn to the abolitionist cause and tried to influence her husband's stance on the issue. She believed the tragedies in her life were divine punishments for her and her husband's sins.
In 1852, her husband was nominated for president by the Democratic Party, a piece of news that reportedly caused her to faint. He had misled her about his presidential ambitions and tried to convince her that their son, Benjamin, would have a better chance of success if he were president. Despite this, she prayed for his loss in the presidential election. Her prayers were not answered, and he won the presidency by a significant margin.
Tragedy struck again during this period when their train derailed, and Benjamin was killed right before their eyes. Jane slipped into a deeper depression, convinced that the loss of their sons was divine punishment for her husband's political ambitions. She didn't attend his inauguration and stayed in Baltimore for two weeks.
Jane kept a low profile during the first few months of her husband's term. She dressed in mourning black and had the White House decorated to reflect the same. She left her duties as the first lady to her aunt and close friend Abby Kent-Means, preferring private Bible study and solitude. She developed a friendship with Varina Davis, wife of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, and took an interest in their infant son, who sadly passed away in 1854. Gradually, she adapted to her role as the First Lady.
During her time in the White House, she held religious services and insisted the staff attend church. She occasionally influenced her husband's decisions, like when she persuaded him to reverse the arrest of abolitionist Charles L. Robinson in 1856. She took an interest in abolitionism and started attending Congressional debates after her mourning period. At the end of her husband's term, she again chose not to attend the presidential inauguration of his successor, James Buchanan.
Later Life and Death!
After Franklin's presidential term ended, the Pierces spent a month in Washington before touring New England. They then traveled overseas for two years, returning only to buy a 60-acre property in Concord before heading to the West Indies. Jane often avoided Concord as it brought back painful memories of their late son, so she spent most of her remaining life with relatives in Massachusetts.
During the American Civil War, Jane supported the Union and backed abolitionism, which contrasted with Franklin's stance of preserving slavery to maintain the nation and its Constitution. Her health deteriorated in the years following their time in the White House due to worsening tuberculosis. She passed away on December 2, 1863, at the age of 57 and was laid to rest at Old North Cemetery in Concord. Franklin was buried next to his wife and son after his death on October 8, 1869, at the age of 64.
In her will, Jane made donations to the American Bible Society, the American Society for Foreign Missions, and the American Colonization Society.
Jane Pierce Legacy
The public's initial impression of Jane Pierce was shaped by a biography of her husband, written by their friend, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He highlighted her frail health as the reason for Franklin declining a role in the Polk administration, which painted her as a chronically ill woman - an image that has endured.
As first lady, Jane was perceived as an invalid and a gloomy presence in the White House, although she did draw sympathy for her grief. She was known as "the shadow of the White House." However, she faced public criticism when she cancelled Saturday evening Marine Band concerts because of the Sabbath. Hawthorne once described her as a person who "wasn't really of this world."
Historians generally rate Jane poorly, with polls indicating she is regarded as one of the least effective first ladies. She served in the role before it had national prominence and during a presidency that has faded into obscurity. Like other antebellum first ladies, she is often described as avoiding the limelight and having minimal impact on her husband's administration. She is considered to have set little precedent for her successors.
Jane's influence on her husband was seen in her disapproval of politics, including her role in his decision to retire from the Senate in 1842. Some scholars suggest she may have felt a religious duty to save his soul and courted him because of his vices rather than despite them. While contemporary views of Jane were generally sympathetic, 20th-century historians often described her as a hypochondriac who failed to support her husband during times of tragedy, considering her a detrimental factor in her husband's poorly recieived presidency.
Politcal Beliefs
Pierce was a Puritan, shaping her views on life. She believed suffering was God's punishment and disliked Washington's party culture and drinking habits. Raised a Whig, her marriage to a Democrat caused family disputes. She backed the temperance movement, opposing alcohol, and supported abolitionism, clashing with her husband's view on slavery. She hoped for a Union win in the Civil War. Pierce admired President Andrew Jackson but thought Representative Davy Crockett was arrogant and foolish.
The Gold Coin!
Jane Pierce, the spouse of President Franklin Pierce from 1853 to 1857, was the First Lady of the United States. She was honored with a gold coin, symbolizing her significance and contributions during her time as First Spouse.
Jane Pierce Inaugural Dress
Dresses of the 1850´s
The shirts feature short straight collars and are paired with narrow neckties tied in wide bows. The half-boots have short heels. The coat sleeves are long, exposing only a small amount of shirt cuff. A fashion plate from 1857 showcases formal evening wear, informal day wear, top coats, and a dressing gown.
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