William Henry Seward
By: Taryn Miller
William Henry Seward was born on May 16, 1801. In his youth hewas preferred to be called Harry Seward.
When he was fifteen, he was admitted to Union College in Scheretady,New York. He was enrolled for almost two years, and left collegeon New Year's Day, 1819, with a classmate who was bound for ateaching post in Georgia.
Family Years
He was married to Frances Adeline Miller on October 20,1824. His first son was born October 1, 1826, and a second soncame four years later. His third child, a girl named Cornelia,arrived on August 25, 1835. She grew fast, and was all smiles.Then early in January she contracted smallpox through the carelessnessof the family doctor. One day Seward rushed home to find her blindedand disfigured. She died on January 14, and within a few daysboth her father and one of her brothers contracted mild formsof the same disease. Seward's last child Frances Adeline, namedafter her mother, was born December 9, 1844.
Political Career
Seward became govenor in 1839, and was thrilled to bepart of the United States government. After a few years, he waselected out of the seat of govenor.
Despite his cares and tribulations in the 1840's, Seward neverabandoned the idea of resuming his political career. Seward waselected to the United States Senate in 1850, by a vote of 121to 32.
Seward was not quite sixty years old when he became Secrataryof State.
The Purchase of Alaska
After the Crimean War had weakened Russia, the countrybecame eager to sell what we now know as Alaska. Edourd de Stoeckl,the Russian Prime Minister, hoped to get $6,000,000, possibly$6,500,000 for the purchase, and was delighted when additionalbargaining brought the offer to $7,000,000. After some arguments,Seward insisted that the Cession be free from any reservations,privelages, franchises, grants, or possesions, and added $200,000to the purchase price. The final vote within congress ended upto be 37-2, only two Senators voting against an issue which wasgoing to be approved. Seward agreed to buy the region for $7.2million. (about 2 cents per acre) On March 30, 1867, he signedthe Treaty of Cession of Russian America to the United States.
A picture of Edourd de Stoeckl
(photo taken at Anchorage Museum of Fine Arts)
Some Americans opposed the purchase. They called Alaska such namesas Seward's Folly, Seward's Icebox, and Icebergia, but other Americansfavored the aquisition. Congress approved the purchase, and Americantroops raised the U.S. flag at Sitka on October 18, 1867. It wassaid Princess Maksoutoff cried when the Russian flag was lowered.
Life after the purchase
Seward stayed in politics for many years after that, and proposedmany treaties. As Secratary of State, Seward demonstrated a remarkableability to assume great burdens of administration, and an equallyremarkable versatility of approach to vital issues. He watchedthe public opinion, sometimes using and never flouting it. Heappreciated the maxim that a half loaf is better than none, remarkingtoward the end of his career,"it is always better to acceptwhat can be secured and call in the aid of time to perfect whatwe have established."