Millard Fillmore (1800 – 1874) was the 13th president of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. He was the last Whig president and is best remembered for signing the Compromise of 1850, which temporarily eased tensions between North and South over slavery. Though he saw himself as a unifier, his support for the Fugitive Slave Act damaged his legacy.
Born into poverty in New York, Fillmore had little formal education but became a lawyer and politician. He was elected to Congress and later served as vice president under Zachary Taylor. When Taylor died in 1850, Fillmore assumed the presidency and worked to preserve the Union. However, his enforcement of pro-slavery laws alienated Northern Whigs and contributed to the party’s collapse.
After his presidency, Fillmore joined the Know-Nothing Party, running unsuccessfully in the 1856 election. He later retired from politics but remained active in civic affairs, supporting the University at Buffalo. Historians rank him among the least effective presidents due to his indecisiveness and controversial policies on slavery.
Despite his shortcomings, Fillmore played a crucial role in a volatile period of American history. His efforts to hold the country together, though flawed, reflected the complexities of antebellum politics.