Edward Everett (1794-1865)

Full name
Edward Everett

Vital Statistics

 * Sex : Male
 * Born: 11 at Boston, Massachusetts
 * Died: 15 at Boston, Massachusetts at age 70
 * Interment: Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Paternal Pedigree

 * Edward Everett was the son of the Rev. Oliver Everett (1752-1802) and Lucy Hill (1768-1824)
 * the son of Ebenezer Everett (?-?)
 * the son of John Everett (?-?)
 * the son of John Everett (?-?)
 * the son of Richard Everett (?-?)

Siblings

 * Ann (Everett) Gardner (1784-1840)
 * Lucretia Orne Everett (1786-1862)
 * Oliver Everett, Jr. (1788-1864)
 * Lucy (Everett) Durivage (1791-ca1864)
 * Edward Everett (1794-1865)
 * Alexander Hill Everett (1792-1847)
 * Sarah Preston (Everett) Hale (1796-1866) Mother of Rev. Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909)
 * Charlotte (Everett) Brooks (1800-1859)
 * John Everett (1801-1826)
 * Thomas Everett (?)

Early Life and Education
In 1814, Edward Everett became a Unitarian minister in Boston, Massachusetts, but, appointed (1815) professor of Greek literature at Harvard, he went abroad to study at the Univ. of Göttingen (Ph.D., 1817) and to travel. During his professorship (1819–25) he also edited (1820–23) the North American Review. Everett was a professor of Greek literature at Harvard University.

Political service
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served from March 4, 1825-March 3, 1835. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1834. He was governor of Massachusetts from 1836–1839

Everett served as United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Britain from 1841-1845, declining a commission to China in 1843. He was president of Harvard University from 1846–49

In 1852 he was appointed United States Secretary of State by President Millard Fillmore to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Daniel Webster, and served to March 3, 1853. He was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1853, until his resignation, effective June 1, 1854. It is said that he was embarrassed by his old-line Whig attitude of compromise on slavery.

Everett was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1860 on the Constitutional Union ticket. During the American Civil War, he traveled extensively throughout the North speaking for the Union cause and drawing immense audiences.

Gettysburg Oration
Widely considered the nation's greatest orator of his time, He was invited to give the main speech at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg on 19 November, 1863.

The stirring address has been eclipsed in history by President Lincoln's two-minute Gettysburg Address.

The town of Everett, Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1870, was named after him.

Contributors
Nhprman