William H. Seward
Introduction
While he had his controversies, William Henry Seward was a man of moral clarity on slavery, the most pressing issue in mid-19th century U.S. William adamantly objected to its practice, and his unequivocal stance made him the more radical candidate when running for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860. As a result, Abraham Lincoln received the party's support. And, well, the rest is history.
However, William, who had already served as governor of New York and U.S. Senator, among other influential political positions, chose to support Lincoln, actively campaigning for him in the Presidential election. That support proved vital in an election in which Lincoln wasn't allowed on the ballot of ten southern states. And when Lincoln became President, he named William Secretary of State. In that role, William became one of the President's most important advisors while serving to help the Union come away victorious during the Civil War in one of the most tumultuous times in U.S. history.
The following is William's story.