Franklin Pierce (1804–1869) was the 14th President of the United States (1853–57), whose inability to calm tensions over slavery kept the country on the path to the Civil War. A northern Democrat from New Hampshire, Pierce served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and took part in the Mexican–American War as a brigadier general before becoming the Democrats' compromise candidate in the 1852 presidential election. He saw the abolitionist movement as a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation. He was a Young America expansionist who signed the Gadsden Purchase of land from Mexico and led a failed attempt to acquire Cuba from Spain. His polarizing actions in signing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act failed to stem intersectional conflict. Although Pierce expected to be renominated by the Democrats, he was abandoned by his party and failed in his bid to be re-elected. His wife Jane suffered from illness and depression for much of her life, and all of their children died young. Pierce, a heavy drinker for much of his life, died of cirrhosis of the liver. Today he is widely regarded as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1499:

Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII, was hanged after reportedly attempting to escape from the Tower of London. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perkin_Warbeck

1876:

William "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been arrested for embezzlement, was handed to US authorities after having escaped from prison to Spain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tweed

1924:

Edwin Hubble published evidence in a newspaper that the Andromeda Nebula, previously believed to be part of the Milky Way, is actually another galaxy, one of many in the universe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Hubble

1934:

An Anglo-Ethiopian boundary commission in the Ogaden encountered a garrison of Somalis in Italian service at Walwal, which led to the Abyssinia Crisis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinia_Crisis

2009:

A crowd of people on their way to register the candidacy of Esmael Mangudadatu in the upcoming election for Governor of Maguindanao, Philippines, were attacked by supporters of his rival, resulting in at least 57 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_massacre

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

donna: A lady, especially a noblewoman; the title given to a lady in Italy. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/donna

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I am not … a "good man"! … And I'm not a bad man. … I am not a "hero" — and I'm definitely not a President — and no — I'm not an officer! … You know what I am? … I AM … an IDIOT! … with a box — and a screwdriver — passing through, helping out, learning. I don't need an army, I never have. …because love, it's not an emotion — Love is a promise!   --Doctor Who https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Doctor_Who