William L. Marcy, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

William L. Marcy

American politician

Date of Birth: 12-Dec-1786

Place of Birth: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Date of Death: 04-Jul-1857

Profession: judge, lawyer, politician, diplomat

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius


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About William L. Marcy

  • William Learned Marcy (December 12, 1786 – July 4, 1857) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as U.S.
  • Senator, Governor of New York, U.S.
  • Secretary of War and U.S.
  • Secretary of State.
  • In the latter office, he negotiated the Gadsden Purchase, the last major acquisition of land in the continental United States. Born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, Marcy established a legal practice in Troy, New York after graduating from Brown University.
  • He fought in the War of 1812, as an ensign, first lieutenant and captain in the 155th New York Infantry Regiment.
  • Politically, he aligned with the Bucktail faction of the Democratic-Republican Party and became a leading member of the Albany Regency.
  • As the Democratic-Republicans fractured in the 1820s, he became a member of the Democratic Party.
  • Between 1821 and 1831, he successively served as Adjutant General of New York, New York State Comptroller, and as an associate justice of the New York Supreme Court.
  • In 1831, the New York legislature elected Marcy to the U.S.
  • Senate, and he held that position until 1833, when he became the Governor of New York.
  • He served three terms as governor until his defeat in 1838 by the Whig nominee, William Seward. He served as Secretary of War under James K.
  • Polk from 1845 to 1849, overseeing the Mexican–American War.
  • After leaving the Polk administration, he resumed the practice of law and became a leader of the "Soft" Hunker faction of the New York Democratic Party.
  • He returned to the Cabinet in 1853, serving as Secretary of State under Franklin Pierce.
  • In this role, he resolved a dispute about the status of U.S.
  • immigrants abroad and directed U.S.
  • diplomats to dress in the plain style of an ordinary American rather than the court-dress many had adopted from Europe.
  • He also negotiated a reciprocity treaty with British North America and the Gadsden purchase with Mexico, acquiring territory in present-day Arizona and New Mexico.
  • He left office in 1857 and died shortly thereafter.

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