Life of Franklin Pierce

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Life of Franklin Pierce was written as a "campaign life" shortly before the election of Pierce to the presidency in 1852.

Genres: Biography, Presidents, History

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1852

About the author

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history.

Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.

Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hawthorne met future president Franklin Pierce when they were both Bowdoin college boys, and the friendship deepened with the years. (In fact, in 1864. Pierce and Hawthorne were on a trip together to the White Mountains when the 60 year old novelist passed away. Pierce was the one who informed Hawthorne’s wife of his death.)

This short biography, written for Pierce’s presidential campaign, is not particularly remarkable, although it does give us a glimpse of Pierce’s as an amiable youth and of his enduring heroism in the Mexican War as he led his troops, even with a badly busted leg. Still, it is far from essential reading, even for the Hawthorne specialist.

I'll let Hawthorne himself sum it up:

The author of this memoir — being so little of a politician that he scarcely feels entitled to call himself a member of any party — would not voluntarily have undertaken the work here offered to the public. Neither can he flatter himself that he has been remarkably successful in the performance of his task, viewing it in the light of a political biography, and as a representation of the principles and acts of a public man, intended to operate upon the minds of multitudes during a presidential canvass. This species of writing is too remote from his customary occupations — and, he may add, from his tastes — to be very satisfactorily done, without more time and practice than he would be willing to expend for such a purpose. If this little biography have any value, it is probably of another kind — as the narrative of one who knew the individual of whom he treats, at a period of life when character could be read with undoubting accuracy, and who, consequently, in judging of the motives of his subsequent conduct, has an advantage over much more competent observers . . . .

[Jonathan Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand that this is, in effect, Franklin Pierce propaganda, but even by that metric there’s just really not much of value here. This gives about the vaguest possible outline of Pierce prior to receiving the presidential nomination for his party, fast tracking through like 3 major events in order to bolster his character and make him appear electable.

There are also a LITANY of page-long quotes in this that really kill any flow it could have had.

This is probably not worth reading

[Bruce · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had to rate the presidential campaign biography from the best author Nathaniel Hawthorne's
book about his good friend Franklin Pierce would be at the top of the list. When you have one of
America's most noted authors as your biographer you have it made. For his work and on general
principles of friendship Pierce made Hawthorne the Consul to Liverpool in his administration.

So in between writing such work as the Scarlet Letter and Dr. Rappacini's Garden, Hawthorne knocked
out this tome to his friend. It certainly has not stood the test of time.

Franklin Pierce was one of the darkest of dark horse candidates that ever became president. The plain fact is that he didn't make much of a mark in previous offices. He was a good looking matinee
idol type president who married the daughter of the president of his college alma mater. Jane Means
Appleton was a sickly woman and demanding of his time. The Pierces suffered god awful tragedy
in that all three of their children did not make it out of childhood. Pierce drank a lot, but God
knows he had reason to drink.

After time in the New Hampshire state legislature, Pierce did two desultory terms in the House of
Representatives from 1833 to 1837 no legislation of note emerged from him. Similarly his almost
completed term in the Senate from 1837 to 1842 yielded nothing.

Pierce was put in charge of the committee concerning Revolutionary War pensions, not a position
of great responsibility. Hawthorne knew he didn't have much to work on for his friend so what he
did is seize on a particular piece of oratory about patronage. When the Van Buren Administration
was going out and the new Whig administration of William Henry Harrison was coming in, the
usual political firings were done as Whigs replaced Democrats. One of his Whig colleagues made a
remark about this having been done for 'state necessity'.

High falutin' oratory was common back then, but I'm sure that Clay, Calhoun, Webster, and Benton,
couldn't believe what was coming out of Pierce when in a fit of indignation he compared the sacking of Democratic hacks to the St. Bartholomew Massacre for 'state necessity'. They must
have scratched their heads for days. Such passed for his Senate record and he resigned with six
months left on his term due to pressures from his wife. Jane hated Washington and public life.

Pierce did however serve as a volunteer in the Mexican War. But his combat record was stained
unfairly when during a cavalry charge he hit his saddle horn and fell unhorsed with a groin injury.
His opponents unfairly called him 'fainting Frank'. Still it was rather an undignified end to his
military service. To fill in the Mexican War years, Hawthorne reprinted Pierce's rather desultory
diary and tried to blow it up.

You have to know a bit about Franklin Pierce's public record to realize what an outrageous puff
piece this is. Hawthorne's work has neither literary merit nor political verisimilitude. A sad commentary for one of America's great authors.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This hagiography is bearable if you imagine that the estimable Mr. Hawthorne is throwing some subtle shade on his old friend and Bowdoin classmate Mr. Pierce, then a candidate for the Presidency. "His intellect has evolved" - i.e. he was a real cluck back in college. "If he had made no admission of error it is because he feels no wrong" - i.e. not the deepest puddle in the sidewalk. "He was cured of ambition as, one after another, its objects came to him unsought" - i.e. he's more lucky than smart. "His intercourse with President Jackson was frequent and free" - well, draw your own conclusions.

[Debbie Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's worth the read because Hawthorne wrote it, but it is unashamedly sycophantic. One should not write about biographies about their friends. Fortunately, it is short.

[Ric White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique reading experience. I don't know Hawthorne for his biographical work, and I can see why. This reads more like a novel about a great hero than an unbiased look at this little known president. Hawthorne had personal connections to Pierce, and his admiration shows. The details he includes help to convey the story of the man, even if with a sugar coating. What's horrifying and entertaining at the same time is Hawthorne's defense of Pierce's controversial stances on issues like slavery. Glad I read it.

[Kathy Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely political propoganda written by a romantic person. How can anyone be so perfect? Hawthorne doesn't say one bad thing about him. He must have done something that wasn't successful. It was interesting reading about a President from a person who knew him.

[YourLovelyMan · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a testament to their friendship that Hawthorne was willing to put his name on such a terrible work. Hawthorne drones in verbose, patriotic language about Pierce's love for country, honor and zeal as an attorney, and valor in battle. Writing of his role in the War with Mexico, one would think Pierce's leadership was an inspiration to everyone around. By historical accounts, Pierce arrived when most of the fighting was over, and spent much of the time in a tent with diarrhea.

I read this as part of a project to read at least one biography of each US President, with an eye toward pairing this book with a more neutral, historical approach. I can honestly say that so far, even that was not worth the effort, as this book didn't contain much information that shed any meaningful light.

It is fortunately a short read, but unless you're writing a thesis on electoral literature of the antebellum, I can't see any reason to add this to your shelf.