26 moments

1. Birth in Hillsborough

   1804-11-23 · Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

   Pierce was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, near the homestead where he grew up. The birthplace was a nearby log cabin; coordinates represent the Franklin Pierce Homestead area in Hillsborough.

2. Begins studies at Bowdoin College

   1820-01-01 · Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, United States

   Pierce entered Bowdoin College in Brunswick, where he formed enduring friendships including one with Nathaniel Hawthorne.

3. Teaching at Hebron Academy

   1824-01-01 · Hebron Academy, Hebron, Maine, United States

   During his final Bowdoin year, Pierce taught for several months at Hebron Academy, earning his first salary. The source identifies this as his final Bowdoin year; 1824 is the year of his graduation.

4. Legal study under Judge Edmund Parker

   1826-01-01 · Amherst, New Hampshire, United States

   Pierce continued his legal preparation under Judge Edmund Parker in Amherst before entering practice. The source supports a period spanning 1826–1827; this card uses the earliest supported year.

5. Begins law practice

   1827-01-01 · Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

   After admission to the New Hampshire bar, Pierce established his first law practice in his home town. Coordinates represent central Hillsborough and the nearby Pierce Homestead area.

6. Departs for congressional service

   1833-11-01 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

   Pierce left New Hampshire for Washington to begin active service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Coordinates are for the United States Capitol, the congressional venue.

7. Returns to the capital for Congress

   1835-12-01 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

   While maintaining his New Hampshire legal work between sessions, Pierce returned to Washington for the Twenty-fourth Congress. Coordinates are for the United States Capitol.

8. Relocates to the state capital

   1838-01-01 · Concord, New Hampshire, United States

   Pierce and his family moved from Hillsborough to Concord, which became his principal New Hampshire base for much of the rest of his life.

9. Returns to Concord after Senate service

   1842-01-01 · Pierce Manse, Concord, New Hampshire, United States

   After resigning from the Senate, Pierce returned to Concord, resumed legal work, and remained a leading figure in New Hampshire Democratic politics. Coordinates represent the Pierce Manse, identified by the source as his Concord home from 1842 to 1848.

10. Arrives at Veracruz during Mexican–American War

    1847-06-01 · Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico

    As a newly promoted brigadier general, Pierce reached the U.S.-held port of Veracruz and prepared his brigade’s inland march toward Scott’s army. Coordinates represent the historic port city; the source gives only late June.

11. Commands brigade at Contreras

    1847-08-01 · Contreras, Mexico City, Mexico

    Pierce’s brigade joined Scott’s army in time for the Battle of Contreras, where an injury beneath his fallen horse badly affected him. The source establishes Pierce with Scott’s army at the battle during August; coordinates represent the Contreras/Padierna battlefield area.

12. Fights at Churubusco

    1847-08-01 · Churubusco, Mexico City, Mexico

    Despite a severe knee injury, Pierce insisted on leading his brigade into the fighting at Churubusco. The cited biography identifies this action as the Battle of Churubusco; the battle occurred in August 1847.

13. Occupation of Mexico City

    1847-09-01 · Mexico City, Mexico

    Pierce led his brigade through the remainder of Scott’s campaign and remained in command during the subsequent occupation of Mexico City. Coordinates represent central Mexico City; Pierce's brigade was held in reserve during much of the battle.

14. Returns home from Mexico

    1847-12-01 · Concord, New Hampshire, United States

    Pierce returned to Concord after the Mexico campaign and received a public welcome in his home state. The source gives late December rather than an exact day.

15. Resumes law practice after war

    1848-01-01 · Concord, New Hampshire, United States

    Back in Concord, Pierce resumed his legal practice while consolidating his role as a leader of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

16. Train derailment near Andover

    1853-01-06 · Andover, Massachusetts, United States

    While returning toward Concord with his family, Pierce survived the derailment that killed his eleven-year-old son Benjamin shortly before the inauguration. The accident source dates the derailment to January 6, 1853, near Andover station; coordinates are the documented accident coordinates.

17. Presidential inauguration

    1853-03-04 · East Portico, United States Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Pierce took office as the fourteenth president at the East Portico of the United States Capitol and delivered his inaugural address from memory.

18. Remains in Washington after presidency

    1857-01-01 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    After leaving office, Pierce and his wife stayed in Washington with former Secretary of State William L. Marcy for more than two months. The source establishes the stay after the March 4, 1857 end of his presidential term but does not give exact arrival and departure dates.

19. Stay in Madeira

    1857-01-01 · Madeira, Portugal

    

    Seeking a warmer climate after the presidency, Pierce and his wife began several years of travel with a stay in Madeira. The source places the Madeira stay at the beginning of travel following the 1857 departure from Washington; coordinates represent Funchal as a defensible island reference point.

20. Visits Nathaniel Hawthorne in Rome

    1857-01-01 · Rome, Lazio, Italy

    

    During his post-presidential European travel, Pierce visited his longtime friend Nathaniel Hawthorne in Rome. The source places the Rome visit during the Pierce family’s 1857–1860 travels but does not provide a more exact year.

21. Visits Michigan during Civil War

    1861-09-01 · Michigan, United States

    

    Pierce traveled to Michigan and visited former cabinet member Robert McClelland, former senator Lewis Cass, and others amid growing controversy over his Civil War views. The source identifies Michigan but not a particular city; coordinates are a representative point for the state.

22. Addresses New Hampshire Democrats

    1863-07-01 · New Hampshire, United States

    

    Pierce gave a speech criticizing Lincoln’s wartime restrictions on speech and civil liberties to New Hampshire Democrats. The source does not identify the town or venue; coordinates are a representative point for New Hampshire.

23. Travels with Hawthorne to Plymouth

    1864-01-01 · Plymouth, New Hampshire, United States

    Pierce accompanied Nathaniel Hawthorne north to Plymouth, New Hampshire, where Hawthorne died during the journey. The source places the journey in spring 1864 but does not supply a more precise date.

24. Confronts mourning crowd at his Concord home

    1865-04-01 · Franklin Pierce House, Concord, New Hampshire, United States

    

    After Lincoln’s assassination, Pierce addressed a crowd that assembled outside his Concord home and defended his patriotism. Coordinates represent the former Franklin Pierce House at 52 South Main Street; the building was later destroyed.

25. Returns to Concord in failing health

    1869-09-01 · Concord, New Hampshire, United States

    

    As cirrhosis worsened, Pierce returned to Concord knowing that he would not recover.

26. Death at his Concord home

    1869-10-08 · Franklin Pierce House, Concord, New Hampshire, United States

    

    Pierce died in Concord at age sixty-four after a final decline caused by cirrhosis. The biography identifies Concord as the place of death; coordinates represent the former Franklin Pierce House at 52 South Main Street.