Franklin Pierce's Tragedy

January 6th (earlier this week), besides being the anniversary of the death of Theodore Roosevelt, was also the anniversary of another event in presidential history, a very tragic one. On January 6, 1853, President-elect Franklin Pierce and his family (composed of the President-elect, his wife Jane and their 11 year old son Bennie) boarded a train in Boston, en route to Washington, D.C. As the train was approaching Andover, Massachusetts, it derailed. The car that the Pierce family was riding in rolled down an embankment and into a field below. Franklin and Jane Pierce survived. They sustained slight physical injuries, but Benny was not so lucky. The Pierces saw their 11-year-old son crushed to death. The Pierces had already had two children die in infancy. Their first child, Franklin Jr. born in 1836, lived only 3 days. Their second son, Franky, born three years later, died in 1843 of typhus.Benny had been a popular and likable child.

Jane Pierce was especially devastated by Benny's death. She viewed the train accident as a divine punishment for her husband's pursuit and acceptance of high office. She blamed Franklin's political ambitions for their son's death. Grief stricken and nervously exhausted, Pierce assumed the Presidency. Jane became withdrawn and refused to attend her husband's inauguration. She returned home to New Hampshire. Although she was first lady in name, she never performed any of the duties of the position.