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'''Millard Fillmore''' became the 13th [[President of the United States of America]] upon the unexpected death due to illness of [[President]] [[Zachary Taylor]] in 1850. He served as the president from 1850-1853<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/13th-us-president-millard-fillmore.htm</ref>.
'''Millard Fillmore''' became the 13th [[President of the United States of America]] upon the unexpected death due to illness of [[President]] [[Zachary Taylor]] in 1850. He served as the president from 1850-1853<ref>http://www.trivia-library.com/a/13th-us-president-millard-fillmore.htm</ref>.
Fillmore admitted [[California]] as a state as part of the Compromise of 1850, sent [[Commodore Perry]] to [[Japan]], and was president during the [[Gold Rush]] to California. Fillmore was the last [[Whig]] to hold the presidency, and he failed in his presidential candidacy in the [[United States presidential election, 1856|1856 Presidential election]] as the nominee of both the Know Nothing (American) Party and the Whig Party. The Whig Party did not even nominate him for reelection in the [[United States presidential election, 1852|1852 Presidential election]].
Fillmore admitted [[California]] as a state as part of the Compromise of 1850, sent [[Commodore Perry]] to [[Japan]], and was president during the [[Gold Rush]] to California. Fillmore was the last [[Whig]] to hold the presidency, and he failed in his presidential candidacy in the [[United States presidential election, 1856|1856 Presidential election]] as the nominee of both the Know Nothing (American) Party and the Whig Party. The Whig Party did not even nominate him for reelection in the [[United States presidential election, 1852|1852 Presidential election]].
The main event in his presidency was the [[Compromise of 1850]], which appeased the slave states and held off [[American Civil War|civil war]] for a few more years. While certain liberal historians have tried to paint this as a good thing, it ultimately proved to be a terrible mistake that allowed the southern states to grow in strength and confidence, and eventually lead to their secession. Had Fillmore continued his predecessor's more militaristic stance towards the slave states, the probable outcome would have been a relatively short and bloodless conflict; unfortunately, Fillmore either couldn't see or wouldn't accept that civil war was inevitable by that point, and it lead to the eventual war being far more bloody and destructive than it needed to be. Fillmore's role in this has traditionally been overlooked by historians, resulting in him holding an inflated reputation among the U.S. Presidents.
On July 10, 1850, Fillmore declared, "I dare not shrink; and I rely upon Him who holds in His hands the destinies of nations to endow me with the requisite strength for the task."
On July 10, 1850, Fillmore declared, "I dare not shrink; and I rely upon Him who holds in His hands the destinies of nations to endow me with the requisite strength for the task."