Millard Fillmore Timeline

(January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874 (Presidency: July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853))

Millard Fillmore (1800–1874) was the 13th President of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. Rising from humble beginnings as a self-taught lawyer in New York, he became president after Zachary Taylor's death. His presidency is most associated with the Compromise of 1850, including the controversial Fugitive Slave Act, which deepened sectional tensions leading to the Civil War. More Less

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Early Life and Education

Millard Fillmore born in Summerhill, New York

Jan 7, 1800

Millard Fillmore was born into a poor farming family in a log cabin in Summerhill, New York. The second of nine children, he grew up in poverty on the frontier and received little formal schooling in his youth.

Image source: Millard Fillmore

Apprenticed to clothier Benjamin Hungerford

1815

At age 15, Fillmore was apprenticed to a cloth dresser, learning the wool-carding trade. He later bought out his apprenticeship and used his savings to pursue an education.

Studies law under Judge Walter Wood

1819 - 1823

Fillmore began studying law under Judge Walter Wood while teaching school to support himself. He was admitted to the bar in 1823 and opened a law practice in East Aurora, New York.

Marries Abigail Powers

Feb 5, 1826

Fillmore married Abigail Powers, a schoolteacher who had encouraged his early education. She became a highly literate First Lady who helped establish the White House library.

Image source: Abigail Fillmore

Moves law practice to Buffalo

1830

Fillmore relocated his growing law practice to Buffalo, New York, where he built a successful career as a lawyer and became increasingly active in state politics.

Image source: Buffalo, New York

Political Career

Elected to the New York State Assembly

Nov 6, 1828

Fillmore won election to the New York State Assembly as an Anti-Mason, serving three one-year terms beginning in 1829. He focused on bankruptcy reform and abolishing imprisonment for debt.

Image source: New York State Assembly

Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

1832 - Mar 3, 1843

Fillmore served four terms in Congress as a Whig, becoming a close ally of Henry Clay. He chaired the powerful Ways and Means Committee during his final term.

Image source: United States House of Representatives

Helps pass the Tariff of 1842

Aug 30, 1842

As chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Fillmore guided the Tariff of 1842 through Congress, restoring protective tariffs after the economic downturn following the Panic of 1837.

Image source: Tariff of 1842

Leaves Congress and runs for governor of New York

1844

After declining renomination to Congress, Fillmore ran for governor of New York but narrowly lost to Democrat Silas Wright in a year dominated by national Democratic victories.

Image source: 1844 New York gubernatorial election

Serves as Comptroller of New York State

Jan 1, 1848 - Feb 20, 1849

Fillmore was elected comptroller of New York, overseeing the state's finances. He resigned after less than two years upon being elected Vice President of the United States.

Image source: New York State Comptroller

Elected Vice President on Whig ticket with Zachary Taylor

Nov 7, 1848

Fillmore was nominated for vice president to balance the ticket with General Zachary Taylor. The Whig ticket won the 1848 election over Democrat Lewis Cass.

Image source: 1848 United States presidential election

Elected Vice President on Whig ticket with Zachary Taylor

Presides over Senate debates on slavery expansion

Dec 1849 - Jul 1850

As President of the Senate, Fillmore presided over fierce debates over the Compromise of 1850. Privately he told Taylor that if the vote were tied on admitting California, he would support it.

Image source: Compromise of 1850

Whig Party declines amid sectional divisions

1852 - 1856

The Whig Party fractured along sectional lines over slavery. Fillmore, identified with compromise, saw the party collapse as anti-slavery Northerners fled to new opposition parties.

Image source: Whig Party (United States)

Nominated for President by Know Nothing (American) Party

Feb 22, 1856

The nativist American Party, known as the Know Nothings, nominated Fillmore for president in 1856, hoping his reputation as a moderate could unite the country amid rising sectionalism.

Image source: Reform Party of the United States of America

Loses 1856 presidential election to James Buchanan

Nov 4, 1856

Running on the American Party ticket, Fillmore carried only Maryland, winning 21.6% of the popular vote. Democrat James Buchanan defeated him and Republican John Frémont.

Image source: 1856 United States presidential election

Presidency

López filibustering expeditions against Cuba suppressed

1850 - 1851

The Fillmore administration prosecuted Narciso López's American supporters for violating neutrality laws after failed filibuster attempts to seize Cuba from Spain, affirming federal authority over private military adventurism.

Image source: Narciso López

López filibustering expeditions against Cuba suppressed

Cabinet resigns en masse; Fillmore appoints new cabinet

Jul 1850 - Sep 1850

Taylor's entire Cabinet resigned rather than serve under Fillmore. He appointed Daniel Webster as Secretary of State and built a cabinet committed to sectional compromise.

Image source: Presidency of Millard Fillmore

Cabinet resigns en masse; Fillmore appoints new cabinet

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty tensions resolved with British negotiations

Jul 4, 1850

During Fillmore's presidency, the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty framework governed Anglo-American relations regarding a potential canal across Central America, with both powers agreeing not to colonize or control Nicaragua exclusively.

Image source: Clayton–Bulwer Treaty

Zachary Taylor dies; Fillmore becomes President

Jul 9, 1850

President Zachary Taylor died suddenly of illness after Fourth of July celebrations. Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th President of the United States the following day.

Signs Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Sep 18, 1850

Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Act, which required Northern authorities to return escaped enslaved people. The law deeply angered abolitionists and became a defining controversy of his presidency.

Image source: Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Signs Compromise of 1850 into law

Sep 20, 1850

With Fillmore's strong support, the Compromise of 1850 passed, including admission of California as a free state, popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories, and resolution of the Texas boundary dispute.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails for Japan

Nov 24, 1852

At Fillmore's direction, Commodore Perry departed for Asia with orders to open trade relations with Japan, carrying a presidential letter to the Emperor of Japan.

Image source: Matthew C. Perry

Perry expedition opens Japan with Treaty of Kanagawa

Mar 31, 1854

Commodore Matthew Perry, dispatched by Fillmore, secured the Convention of Kanagawa, opening Japanese ports to American trade and ending Japan's policy of isolation.

Image source: Convention of Kanagawa

Post-Presidency

Abigail Fillmore dies shortly after leaving the White House

Mar 30, 1853

Former First Lady Abigail Fillmore died of pneumonia weeks after leaving Washington, just 26 days after the end of her husband's term.

Ostend Manifesto drafted (Post-presidential context)

Oct 1854

Diplomats from Franklin Pierce's administration secretly drafted the Ostend Manifesto calling for acquisition of Cuba, illustrating continued Southern ambitions that Fillmore had resisted by enforcing neutrality laws.

Image source: Ostend Manifesto

Ostend Manifesto drafted (Post-presidential context)

Marries Caroline McIntosh

Feb 10, 1858

Five years after Abigail's death, Fillmore married wealthy widow Caroline Carmichael McIntosh, and the couple lived comfortably in his Buffalo mansion until her death in 1881.

Image source: Caroline C. Fillmore

Opposes secession; supports Union during Civil War

1861 - 1865

Though critical of Lincoln at times, Fillmore firmly opposed secession and supported the Union war effort, helping raise home guard troops in Buffalo during the Civil War.

Image source: American Civil War

Opposes secession; supports Union during Civil War

Chancellor of University at Buffalo

1871 - Mar 8, 1874

Fillmore served as the first chancellor of the University at Buffalo, which he had helped found in 1846, remaining in the post until his death.

Image source: University at Buffalo

Suffers stroke in Buffalo

Feb 13, 1874

Millard Fillmore suffered a severe stroke at his home in Buffalo, New York, leading to declining health in his final weeks.

Millard Fillmore dies in Buffalo

Mar 8, 1874

Millard Fillmore died at age 74 in Buffalo, New York. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, remembered as a president whose compromises delayed but did not prevent civil conflict over slavery.