Daniel Webster was a prominent American statesman and lawyer in the 19th century. He was born on January 18, 1782, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. Webster came from a farming family and had a modest upbringing. Despite the financial constraints, he managed to attend Dartmouth College, graduating in 1801. He then studied law under Thomas W. Thompson in Salisbury before moving to Boston where he continued his studies under Christopher Gore. Webster was admitted to the bar in 1805 and began practicing law in Boscawen, New Hampshire. He quickly gained a reputation as a formidable lawyer and orator. His legal career included service as a legal representative in several important cases argued before [[The Supreme Court]], most notably McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), which helped to establish the power of the federal government. ## Political career Webster's political career began in 1812 when he was elected to the U.S. [[House of Representatives]] as a Federalist from New Hampshire. He served two terms before moving to Boston, where he was elected to represent Massachusetts in the House in 1822. He served in the House until 1827, when he was elected to the U.S. [[Senate]]. In the Senate, Webster became known for his oratory skills and his defense of the Union. His most famous speech was his Second Reply to Hayne in 1830, where he defended the power of the federal government and famously concluded with the phrase "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!" Webster served as Secretary of State under three presidents: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore. His most significant accomplishment in this role was the negotiation of the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which resolved several border disputes with Britain. Despite his many accomplishments, Webster's political career was not without controversy. His support for the Compromise of 1850, particularly the [[Fugitive Slave Act]], was deeply unpopular in the North and damaged his reputation. Webster made several unsuccessful runs for the presidency and was often seen as more interested in the preservation of the Union than in the abolition of [[slavery]]. He died on October 24, 1852, in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Webster's legacy is complex. He is remembered as one of the greatest orators in American history and a strong defender of the [[Constitution]] and the Union. However, his stance on slavery has led to a more critical view of his legacy in recent years.