Fillmore was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Buffalo, New York before embarking on a political career with his election to the state assembly in 1829. He was elected to the House of Representatives (1833-35 and 1837-43) and joined the Whig party in 1834. He was defeated in 1844 as the Whig candidate for governor of New York, but succeeded, with the backing of Henry Clay, in winning the nomination for Vice-President in 1848. Fillmore succeeded Zachary Taylor on his death on 9 July, 1850, as the 13th U.S. President. He signed the Compromise of 1850 and attempted to enforce the provisions of the Fugitive Slave act. He approved the treaty with Japan which opened that country to foreign commerce. The Whig party nomination of 1852 put forward General Winfield Scott as its candidate on the back of antislavery and Fillmore left office in 1853. He again ran for president in 1856 as a member of the Know-Nothing party, but carried only one state in the election and retired from active duties. |
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