Millard Fillmore

Profession: 13th US President

Nationality:

Political Party: Whig
Political Titles: Vice President

Presidential Term: July 9, 1850 - March 4, 1853
Preceded By: Zachary Taylor
Succeeded By: Franklin Pierce

Biography: Previously the Vice President under Zachary Taylor, Fillmore became the 13th President of the United States (1850–1853) after Taylor's death in office. He was the last Whig president, and the last president not to be affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties.

Fillmore became US House Representative in 1837. Upon become Vice President, he was mostly ignored by President Taylor, who died in 1850. Upon becoming President, Taylor oversaw the Compromise of that year between the North and the South, as the debate over slavery rapidly expanded. The Compromise was highly controversial and preserved the Union only for another decade.

In foreign policy he supported the Perry Expeditions that opened up Japan to Western trading and resisted French attempts to take Hawaii.

A largely obscure President, he is remembered mainly for the Compromise of 1850, for which he has been widely criticized - particularly his decision to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act which returned captured slaves to their owners. He is consistently included in the bottom 10 of historical rankings of Presidents of the United States.

Born: January 7, 1800
Birthplace: Summerhill, New York, USA
Star Sign: Capricorn

Died: March 8, 1874 (aged 74)
Cause of Death: Stroke