Fillmore, Millard 1800-74
13th President of the USA

Born in Summer Hill, New York, the son of a farmer, he grew up in poverty but educated himself and became a lawyer. He entered New York state politics, then served in the US House of Representatives (1833-35, 1837-43), first as a member of the Anti-Masonic Party and then as a Whig. He was elected Vice-President under Zachary Taylor in 1848 and became President (1850) on Taylor's death. A moderate on the slavery issue, he signed the Compromise of 1850 and tried to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act. His efforts to purge the Whig Party of radicalism alienated many in the party and led to his being passed over for the presidential nomination in 1852. Four years later he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency as the candidate of the nativist Know-Nothing (American) Party.