Though a fastidious Democrat, President Franklin Pierce was a friend of renowned author and Whig activist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Despite their political differences, they maintained a very close friendship. In 1869 when Pierce died, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a touching eulogy for his friend and fellow patriot.

President Pierce’s term was overshadowed not only by the coming national conflict of the American Civil War, but for Pierce it was equally clouded by the loss of his 11 year old son Benjamin two months before Pierce was inaugurated president. Both President Pierce and First Lady Jane Pierce witnessed Benjamin Pierce’s death in the train accident. Jane, in an attempt to make sense of the death, believed that Benjamin had been lost because of the will and grace of God so that President Pierce might focus on maintaining the Union. The President, however, felt it was his fault for some unrepentant sin.