Library of Congress

  1. NAME – Millard Fillmore
  2. NICKNAME(S) – Bathtub Millard (first indoor plumbing in the White House)
  3. BIRTH / DEATH – Jan. 7, 1800  Summerhill, N.Y.  /  1874 Buffalo, N.Y.
  4. FATHER – poor farmer
  5. MOTHER – housewife
  6. COLLEGE – none
  7. WIFE – Abigail
  8. KIDS – one boy and one girl
  9. PETS – ponies (Mason and Dixon)
  10. RELIGION – Unitarian
  11. ANCESTRY – English
  12. AGE – 50

FIRSTS:

–  first indoor plumbing in the White House

MA AND PA:

BACKGROUND:

–  New York State Assembly 1828-31

–  Congressman 1836-42

–  loses governor’s race in 1844

FIRST LADY:  She started teaching when she was 16.  She met Millard when he was a student in her one room schoolhouse.  He was 19 and she was 21.  She continued teaching after marriage, making her the first future First Lady to hold a job after getting married.   

RETIREMENT:  In 1852, he lost the Whig nomination.  Abigail caught pneumonia at Pierce’s inauguration and died soon after.  He became the first chancellor of the University of Buffalo.

TRIVIA:

–  as President he signed a treaty to acquire bat quano  from Peru.   The nitrates were used for explosives.

–  he learned to read from the Bible, then he got a dictionary to help him read all the books in the local library.  By the end of his life, he owned 4,000 books.

–  favorite food –  mock turtle soup