Frederick William Seward

Background

He was born on July 8, 1830 at Auburn, New York, United States, the son of William Henry and Francis (Miller) Seward.

Education

In 1849 he graduated from Union College.

Career

After stidues he became secretary to his father who had just been elected to the United States Senate. After admisson to the bar, through the influence of his father he became, in 1851, a member of the staff of the Albany Evening Journal, conducted by Thurlow Weed, and served on this paper continuously, most of the time as associate editor, for the next ten years.

With his father's entry into the State Department, Frederick became assistant secretary of state. He had special charge of the consular service, but played a part in the preparation of many diplomatic dispatches. In the spring of 1865, when the Secretary was incapacitated by a carriage accident, Frederick became acting secretary of state. In this connection he sent out the notices for the last of Lincoln's cabinet meetings (April 14, 1865), attended the meeting itself, and left an interesting account of what occurred on that day.

In 1866 Frederick was sent with Vice-Admiral David D. Porter on a diplomatic mission which had in view the leasing or purchasing of the Bay of Samana, in the island of Santo Domingo. The negotiations broke down, temporarily, but some months later a treaty was negotiated in Washington, which, however, was never ratified by the Senate. With the change of administration in 1869 the two Sewards retired to private life, and Frederick accompanied his father to Mexico.

In 1874, two years after his father's death, he was elected to the New York Assembly. He was nominated for secretary of state of New York in the fall, but was defeated in the election.

With the advent of the Hayes administration, Seward again went to Washington as assistant secretary of state (March 21, 1877 - October 31, 1879).

After retiring from office he took little part in public life. In 1877 he published Autobiography of William H. Seward from 1801 to 1834, with a Memoir of His Life and Selections from His Letters, from 1831 to 1846, reprinted in 1891 as William H. Seward: An Autobiography, which he supplemented by Seward at Washington, and "Seward's West Indian Cruise". His Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat (1916) was published after his death. Seward died at the age of 84.

Achievements

• Frederick Seward served as the Assistant Secretary of State twice and in this capacity he participated in signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, negotiated for the lease of the harbor of Pago-Pago in Samoa, prepared the presidential proclamation which resulted in the sending of troops to Pittsburgh in connection with the riots of 1877. He also introduced two constitutional amendments, providing for a superintendent of public works and a superintendent of prisons; a bill for the construction of an elevated railway (the first of its kind); and a measure for the reduction of canal tolls. His famous publications: Seward's West Indian Cruise, Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Autobiography of William H. Seward, from 1801 to 1834

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat, 1830-1915

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

Connections

On November 9, 1854, he married Anna M. Wharton of Albany.

Father:

William Henry Seward

Mother:

Francis (Miller) Seward

Spouse:

Anna M. Wharton

coworker:

David D. Porter