Campaign poster from the 1856 presidential election, when Fillmore ran on the American Party ticket. The American Party is better known as the Know-Nothing Party. Library of Congress image. Fillmore failed to win the nomination of the Whig Party in 1852; he lost in 1856 with the Know-Nothings, too. Image from the Library of Congress, American Memory Collections
Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, came into this world on January 7, 1800.
Until Barack Obama, Fillmore held the title of Most Unjustly Maligned President Ever. (Who should be Most Justly Maligned? Comments are open.)
We awake to news that the cold weather in Buffalo, New York, led to the postponement of the annual graveside commemoration, now set to be held Thursday, when the cold isn’t quite so life-threatening.
How should we remember Fillmore? Accurately, of course.
Check out past commemorations of Fillmore’s birthday here, at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub. Generally dealing with Fillmore and history, there are a total of 82 posts on this site. Watch this site today — there will be more.
The long arc of history bends toward justice, some famously say. How long will it take for justice to be done to the reputation of Millard Fillmore?
More, a small sampling:
- Polish up your bathtub, oil the wheels: Millard Fillmore’s birthday next Monday, January 7 (timpanogos.wordpress.com)
- Happy 213th Birthday, Millard Fillmore! (timpanogos.wordpress.com)
- A neglected 95th anniversary of Mencken and Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub – National Bathtub and Presidential Obscurity Day (timpanogos.wordpress.com)
- Millard Fillmore: A Re-Assailing (breitbart.com) (Think McCotter’s been following this blog, perhaps?)
- liberty & law (quotiddly.wordpress.com)
- The American Minute: January 7 (ConservativeActionAlerts.com)
- Morning Bell: George Washington’s Example on Religious Liberty (heritage.org)
Post Script: Why 117 in the headline? Mencken’s hoax on Fillmore, the bathtub story, was published in 1917; we date Fillmore’s reputation troubles from that time.
[…] University of Buffalo honored Millard Fillmore today in a graveside ceremony on Thursday — postponed from Fillmore’s birthday on January 7 due to cold and icy […]
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Well hey, it posted that one. I’ll try another.
Who is the most justly maligned? Not for me to say, not being a historian. But I’d call attention to this, from John Kenneth Galbraith:
It is not easy to be unfair to Richard Nixon.
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Sorry, this comment could not be posted.
Which is exactly the response I get from WP to a brief, simple, link-free post I attempted.
This one is in the nature of an experiment.
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[…] President Fillmore was a fascinating figure who does not get the attention his life and legacy deserves and there are plenty of people around who are still passionate about sharing information about him. You can learn more at Happy birthday, Millard Fillmore! 214 today, not looking a day over 117. […]
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[…] New York, got a jump on celebrating Millard Fillmore’s birthday with a Sunday ceremony; today’s scheduled graveside commemoration is postponed due to weather, to Thursday — […]
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