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[[image: webster.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Daniel Webster]]

 

|image=webster.jpg

|terms=April 1, 1844 – March 10, 1845

|preceded=John M. Clayton

|succeeded=[[Edward Everett]]

|of=State

|president=[[William Henry Harrison]]; [[John Tyler]]

'''Daniel Webster''' (1782-1852) was an American statesman and member of the [[Whig Party]] that was widely known for opposing [[Andrew Jackson]]'s war on the 2nd Bank of the United States. The greatest orator of his day, Webster was of the most influential [[United States Senators]] in history.  He also served as [[Secretary of State]] for Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]], [[John Tyler]] and [[Millard Fillmore]], and his statue stands in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.  

'''Daniel Webster''' (1782-1852) was an American statesman and member of the [[Whig Party]] that was widely known for opposing [[Andrew Jackson]]'s war on the 2nd Bank of the United States. The greatest orator of his day, Webster was of the most influential [[United States Senators]] in history.  He also served as [[Secretary of State]] for Presidents [[William Henry Harrison]], [[John Tyler]] and [[Millard Fillmore]], and his statue stands in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.  

A leading Boston attorney, Webster was an opponent of the [[slavery|slave trade]] and of [[secession]].  He declared in response to [[South Carolina]]'s threats of nullification, "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!"  Webster also negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty to fix the country's northeast boundary.

A leading Boston attorney, Webster was an opponent of the [[slavery|slave trade]] and of [[secession]].  He declared in response to [[South Carolina]]'s threats of nullification, "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!"  Webster also negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty to fix the country's northeast boundary.

Webster was famous for his oratory, his legal and diplomatic skills, and his efforts to avoid the Civil War in the name of American nationalism. In an era that appreciated long complex speeches, Webster was acclaimed the greatest of all orators.  He was one of the nation's most prominent conservatives, as an opponent of [[Andrew Jackson]] and the [[Democratic party]], a spokesman for modernization and the industrial interests of New England, and a leader of the [[Whig Party]]. During his forty years in national politics Webster served in the House of Representatives for ten years (representing New Hampshire), the Senate for nineteen years (representing Massachusetts), and served as Secretary of State for three presidents. He aspired to the White House but was an elitist, not a "man of the people," and the people knew it.  

Webster was famous for his oratory, his legal and diplomatic skills, and his efforts to avoid the Civil War in the name of American nationalism. In an era that appreciated long complex speeches, Webster was acclaimed the greatest of all orators.  He was one of the nation's most prominent conservatives, as an opponent of [[Andrew Jackson]] and the [[Democratic party]], a spokesman for modernization and the industrial interests of New England, and a leader of the [[Whig Party]]. During his forty years in national politics Webster served in the House of Representatives for ten years (representing New Hampshire), the Senate for nineteen years (representing Massachusetts), and served as Secretary of State for three presidents. He aspired to the White House but was an elitist, not a "man of the people," and the people knew it.

==Early career==

==Early career==

Webster indulged his extravagant tastes (he spent enormous sums on wine, boats, and improvements to his Marshfield estate). A poor money manager, he relied on wealthy friends for indefinite "loans" to sustain his spendthrift lifestyle, a phenomenon that led his enemies to call him "Black Dan." Historians have not found any positions that he adjusted to curry favor with his rich friends, who saw it their duty to see what they considered the greatest man of the era be able to stay in office—they called him "Godlike Dan."  "Black Dan" had several mistresses, and drank excessively, but did not dramatically differ from other Senators in these regards.  

Webster indulged his extravagant tastes (he spent enormous sums on wine, boats, and improvements to his Marshfield estate). A poor money manager, he relied on wealthy friends for indefinite "loans" to sustain his spendthrift lifestyle, a phenomenon that led his enemies to call him "Black Dan." Historians have not found any positions that he adjusted to curry favor with his rich friends, who saw it their duty to see what they considered the greatest man of the era be able to stay in office—they called him "Godlike Dan."  "Black Dan" had several mistresses, and drank excessively, but did not dramatically differ from other Senators in these regards.  

==Rhetoric==

==Rhetoric==

Webster's "Reply to Hayne" in 1830 was generally regarded as "the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress," and was a stock exercise for oratory students for 75 years.<ref>Allan Nevins, ''Ordeal of the Union'' (1947) 1:288</ref>

Webster's "Second Reply to Hayne" in 1830 was generally regarded as "the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress," and was a stock exercise for oratory students for 75 years.<ref>Allan Nevins, ''Ordeal of the Union'' (1947) 1:288</ref>

In a speech to the New York Historical Society shortly before he died, Webster stated:  

In a speech to the New York Historical Society shortly before he died, Webster stated:  

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Remini, Robert V. ''Daniel Webster'' (1997), 796pp; the standard scholarly biography and the most important place to start [http://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Webster-Man-His-Time/dp/0393045528/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192442304&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Remini, Robert V. ''Daniel Webster'' (1997), 796pp; the standard scholarly biography and the most important place to start [https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Webster-Man-His-Time/dp/0393045528/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192442304&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Arntson, Paul, and Craig R. Smith. "The Seventh of March Address: A Mediating Influence." ''Southern Speech Communication Journal'' 40 (Spring 1975): 288-301.

* Arntson, Paul, and Craig R. Smith. "The Seventh of March Address: A Mediating Influence." ''Southern Speech Communication Journal'' 40 (Spring 1975): 288-301.

* Bartlett, Irving H.  "Daniel Webster as a Symbolic Hero." ''New England Quarterly'' 45 (December 1972): 484-507. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0028-4866(197212)45%3A4%3C484%3ADWAASH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 in JSTOR]

* Bartlett, Irving H.  "Daniel Webster as a Symbolic Hero." ''New England Quarterly'' 45 (December 1972): 484-507. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0028-4866(197212)45%3A4%3C484%3ADWAASH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 in JSTOR]

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[[Category:Jacksonian Democracy]]

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