Presidents Of The United States

( Originally Published 1885 )

IT is my purpose to give to you this morning a series of facts in reference to the several distinguished men who have been elevated to the high office of President of the United States. You will not fail to remember that this is the highest political office that can be given to a man in the whole world.

To be chosen by popular suffrage for it amounts to that, although by a little circumlocution to be the chief executive officer for a term of four years of this great nation, probably the strongest, undoubtedly the most active and energetic, and perhaps the most intelligent nation on earth, — a nation now numbering nearly sixty millions of free people, this is, without dispute, the greatest political honor that can be bestowed upon a man. The list of names of the men who have attained to this high rank is a worthy list. From George Washington to Chester A. Arthur, we need not be ashamed of the rulers of our people. I wish to name to you a series of facts which will show to you, in very brief epitome, their lives. These facts will include something about their education, the age at which those who had a collegiate course of study graduated, their age in entering active life, the age at which they became President, and their age at death. By placing these facts also upon the blackboard in a tabulated form, you can gather important suggestions from them. That I shall leave to be done in the several rooms.

1. George Washington. At 13 wrote 110 maxims of civility and good behavior ; began surveying at 16 for a doubloon a day ; adjutant at 19 ; commanded a regiment at 22 ; married at 27 ; commander-in-chief at 43 ; President at 57 ; died at 68.

2. John Adams. Graduated at Harvard at 20 ; admitted to the bar at 23 ; married at 29 ; interested in political affairs at 30 ; elected to Massachusetts Legislature at 35 ; delegate to Continental Congress at 40 ; seconded a motion by Richard Henry Lee in Congress for the independence of the United States at 41 ; negotiated the treaty of peace with England (with Jay and Franklin) at 47 ; minister to St. James at 50 ; Vice-President at 54 ; President at 61; died at 90.

3. Thomas Jefferson. Entered college at 17 ; admitted to the bar at 24 ; married at 29 ; Continental Congress at 32 ; drew the Declaration of Independence at 33 ; governor of Virginia at 36 ; minister to France at 41; Secretary of State at 48 ; Vice-President of the United States at 53 ; President from 57 to 65 ; died at 83.

4. James Madison. Entered college at 18 ; Continental Congress at 29 ; delegate to the Constitutional Convention at 36 ; Congress from 38 to 46 ; President at 58 ; died at 85.

5. James Monroe. Graduated at college at 18 ; entered the army at 18 ; Continental Congress at 25 ; United States senator at 32 ; governor of Virginia at 41; envoy extraordinary to France, and purchased Louisiana at 45 ; President at 59 ; died at 73.

6. John Quincy Adams. At 11 attended school in Paris ; entered the University of Leyden at 13 ; graduated at Harvard at 21; admitted to the bar at 24 ; minister to the Hague at 27 ; married at 30 ; minister to Berlin from 30 to 34 ; United States senator at 36 ; professor rhetoric at Harvard at 38 minister to Prussia at 39, and to St. James at 48 ; Secretary of State at 50 ; President at 57 ; representative to Congress 63 to over 80, when he died.

7. Andrew Jackson. Commenced study of law at 18 ; admitted to the bar at 19 ; married at 24; representative in Congress at 29 ; senator at 30 ; major-general in the United States Army at 47 ; won the battle of New Orleans at 48 ; Seminole war at 50 ; President of the United States at 61 ; died at 78.

8. Martin Van Buren. Was admitted to the bar at 21 ; United States senator at 39 ; governor of New York at 46 ; President of the United States at 55 ; died at 80.

9. William Henry Harrison. Lieutenant at 19 ; captain at 22 ; governor of Territory of Indiana at 28 ; battle of Tippecanoe at 38 ; United States senator at 52 ; President at 67 ; died at 68.

10. John Tyler. Graduated at college at 16 ; admitted to the bar at 19 ; Virginia Legislature at 21; governor of Virginia at 35 ; United States senator at 37 ; President at 51; died at 72.

11. James K. Polk. Graduated at college at 23 ; admitted to the bar at 25 ; Tennessee Legislature at 28 ; governor of Tennessee at 44 ; President of the United States at 49 ; died at 54.

12. Zachary Taylor. Was on his father's plantation till 24 ; first lieutenant at 24 ; captain at 26 ; major at 28 ; lieutenant-colonel at 35 ; colonel at 48 ; brigadier-general at 54 ; major-general at 62; war with Mexico from 62 to 64 ; President of the United States at 66 ; died at 67.

13. Millard Fillmore. Spent four years at wool carding ; commenced the study of law at 19 ; commenced practice at bar at 23 ; admitted attorney at 27 ; admitted counsellor <> Supreme Court at 29 ; member of Congress at 33 ; President of the United States at 50 ; died at 74.

14. Franklin Peirce. Graduated from college at 20 ; admitted to the bar at 23 ; member of Congress at 29 ; married at 30 ; United States senator at 33 ; colonel at 42 ; brigadier-general at 43 ; President of the United States at 50 ; died at 65.

15. James Buchanan. Was admitted to the bar at 21 ; member of Congress at 30 ; minister to Russia at 41 ; United States senator at 43 ; Secretary of State at 54 ; minister to England at 62 ; President of the United States at 65 ; died at 77.

16. Abraham Lincoln. On his father's farm till 17 ; made a trip to New Orleans on a flat-boat as hired hand at 19 ; commanded a company in the Black Hawk war at 23 ; soon after began to study law ; Legislature of Illinois at 25 ; licensed to practice law at 27 ; member of Congress at 38 ; canvassed Illinois with Douglass at 49; President of the United States at 51; died by the hand of the assassin at 56.

17. Andrew Johnson. Apprentice to a tailor from 10 to 16 ; taught himself to read while apprentice ; journeyman tailor from 16 to 18 ; married at 19 ; alderman at 20 ; mayor at 23 ; Legislature at 27 ; state senator at 33; member of Congress at 35; governor of Tennessee at 45 United States senator at 49 ; President of the United States at 57 ; died at 67.

18. U. S. Grant. West Point at 21; Mexican War at 24 ; brevet first lieutenant and captain ; captain in Oregon at 31; colonel 21st Illinois Volunteers at 39 ; brigadier-general at 39 ; major-general at 40 ; Lee's surrender at 43 ; President at 47 ; died at 63.

19. Rutherford B. Hayes. Graduated from college at 20 ; admitted to the bar at 23 ; city solicitor at 36 ; member of Congress at 42 ; governor of Ohio at 45 ; President at 56 ; died at 70.

20. James A. Garfield. Driver on Erie Canal at 17 ; entered college at 21; graduated at 25 ; state senator at 28 ; colonel at 30 ; major-general at 31; member of Congress at 32 ; President at 49 ; died by the hand of an assassin at 49.

21. Chester A. Arthur. Graduated at 18 ; admitted to the bar at 21; quartermaster-general state of New York at 32 ; collector of New York at 43 ; elected Vice-President at 50 ; President at 51; died at 56.

22. Grover Cleveland. Attended public schools and academy ; mayor of the city of Buffalo at 44 ; governor of New York at 45 ; President at 47 ; married at 49 ; second term at 55 ; died at 71.

23. Benjamin Harrison. Graduated at 19 ; entered United States Army at 29, and rose to rank of brigadier-general ; United States senator at 47 ; President at 54 ; died at 67.

24. William McKinley. Enlisted as volunteer at 17, and rose to rank of major; admitted to the bar at 23 ; married at 28 ; member of Congress at 33 ; President at 53 ; died by the hand of an assassin at 58.

25. Theodore Roosevelt. Graduated at Harvard at 22 ; member of New York Legislature at 24 ; married at 25 ; Civil Service Commissioner at 31; assistant Secretary of the Navy at 39; lieutenant-colonel United States Cavalry Volunteers at 40 ; governor of New York at 40; Vice-President at 42; President before he was 43, and elected President at 46.