Many U.S. Presidents have endured tragic lives, despite their immense success, whether it be passing away while in office, or losing a beloved family member.
However, there are few more tragic than that of Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States.
Pierce had 3 children: Franklin Pierce Jr., Frank Robert, and Benjamin. Franklin Pierce Jr. died a few days after he was born, and Frank Robert died at the age of 4, leaving the Pierce family with only one surviving child.
Franklin and Jane Pierce were very doting towards Benjamin, always showing him affection- something they wish they could have also done for his other two siblings.
However, after being elected President of the United States (much to Jane’s dismay as she disliked politics and D.C. and saw the presidency as vanity), the Pierces would travel via train, where tragedy would befall them once again. The train derailed, crushing Benjamin Pierce to death, while Franklin and Jane both suffered minimal injury. Unfortunately, both parents saw what remained of their son following the accident, compounding on the psychological damage they already had suffered.
Jane saw this as a punishment from God, and isolated herself in the upstairs rooms of the White House for nearly two years. It certainly took its toll on Franklin as well, as he felt immense guilt knowing that if he had heeded her wife’s advice on not running for president, this tragedy wouldn’t have occurred. There is no way he could have known, but for anyone that has suffered loss of this kind, the feeling is certainly relatable.
Franklin Pierce was depressed throughout much of his presidency, and fell into alcoholism as a means of coping with the most recent loss of his son.
There’s hardly a happy note to end this story on, as Pierce only served 1 term, and a rather unsuccessful one at that.
Though, one quote that stood out to me in my research of this topic comes from Pierce himself during his inauguration speech:
“You have summoned me in my weakness, you must sustain me by your strength.”