Born the youngest child of Franklin Pierce and Jane Means Appleton. Their first child, Franklin Jr. was born in 1836, and lived only three days. Their second son, Frank Robert, died of typhus in 1843 when the youngest son, Bennie, was just two years old. Mrs. Pierce devoted herself to her surviving child, and always did her best to discourage her husband's interest in politics, desiring a quiet life. In 1852, the Democrats made Pierce their candidate for President, and his wife fainted at the news. In a note Bennie wrote to her, he said: "I hope he won't be elected for I should not like to be at Washington and I know you would not either." Pierce accepted the nomination and was elected. Two months before the inauguration, the family were traveling on the Boston and Maine Railroad between Andover and Lawrence, Massachusetts and on January 6, 1853 in a freak accident, their car derailed near Andover and slid over an embankment. Franklin and Jane received only minor injuries but Bennie's death was witnessed by his parents. He proved the only fatality of the accident. The president's inauguration took place on March 4 without an inaugural ball and without Mrs. Pierce. Benjamin's death was a loss from which she never completely recovered.
Born the youngest child of Franklin Pierce and Jane Means Appleton. Their first child, Franklin Jr. was born in 1836, and lived only three days. Their second son, Frank Robert, died of typhus in 1843 when the youngest son, Bennie, was just two years old. Mrs. Pierce devoted herself to her surviving child, and always did her best to discourage her husband's interest in politics, desiring a quiet life. In 1852, the Democrats made Pierce their candidate for President, and his wife fainted at the news. In a note Bennie wrote to her, he said: "I hope he won't be elected for I should not like to be at Washington and I know you would not either." Pierce accepted the nomination and was elected. Two months before the inauguration, the family were traveling on the Boston and Maine Railroad between Andover and Lawrence, Massachusetts and on January 6, 1853 in a freak accident, their car derailed near Andover and slid over an embankment. Franklin and Jane received only minor injuries but Bennie's death was witnessed by his parents. He proved the only fatality of the accident. The president's inauguration took place on March 4 without an inaugural ball and without Mrs. Pierce. Benjamin's death was a loss from which she never completely recovered.
Bio by: Iola
