Lived

January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874

Home State

New York

Party

Whig; later Know-Nothing

Vice President

None

Millard Fillmore succeeded Zachary Taylor and signed the Compromise of 1850, a package of laws that admitted California as a free state, organized Utah and New Mexico territories, and included the Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act turned Northern citizens into slave-catchers, radicalized opinion, and inspired Uncle Tom's Cabin. Fillmore also sent Commodore Perry to Japan, opening that country to American trade. Rejected by the Whigs, he later ran on the nativist Know-Nothing ticket in 1856. New York lawyer, U.S. Representative, Comptroller of New York State, Vice President under Taylor.

Largely self-educated; read law in New York.

Sent Commodore Perry to Japan, opening the country to American trade. Signed a Compromise that briefly postponed civil war. Signed the Compromise of 1850, including the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

The Fugitive Slave Act radicalized Northern opinion, inspired 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and — as later Supreme Court rulings including Ableman v. Booth would show — foreclosed state efforts to shield escaped enslaved people. Fillmore was rejected by the Whigs in 1852 and ran again in 1856 on the nativist Know-Nothing ticket.