The new President thought he was being punished for his ambition. His wife concluded that God was clearing distractions from Franklin’s life so he could focus on his new job. She never got over it.
Oh, what a sad and tragic story. By all accounts, Franklin Pierce was the ideal person to serve as President. A hero, an accomplished legislator and lawyer, but a reluctant family. Mrs. Pierce had to have been devastated by the loss of her three children. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to continue to serve as President and first Lady in the aftermath of the train derailment. Then, when Abraham Lincoln and his wife lost their son at the same age as the Pierce son, everyone had to be concerned about a curse on the presidency.
Tara, I had not known of this story before. You are indeed a student of American History and I thank you for sharing your knowledge.
As a parent and grandparent, it is easy to relate to their grief.
Oh, what a sad and tragic story. By all accounts, Franklin Pierce was the ideal person to serve as President. A hero, an accomplished legislator and lawyer, but a reluctant family. Mrs. Pierce had to have been devastated by the loss of her three children. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to continue to serve as President and first Lady in the aftermath of the train derailment. Then, when Abraham Lincoln and his wife lost their son at the same age as the Pierce son, everyone had to be concerned about a curse on the presidency.
Tara, I had not known of this story before. You are indeed a student of American History and I thank you for sharing your knowledge.
This is heartbreaking.
Thank you, Tara. Could it be that this tragedy exacerbated Franklin Pierce’s trouble with alcohol? Frank
So sad. I did know this history, but thank you Tara for the additional details.