The Tragic Life of Franklin Pierce

Here's the story of a President who consistently ranks as one of the worst. Does Franklin Pierce really deserve that ranking?

All images in the public domain. Music by Worsh Ahts used by permission.

[sambradley]

I feel sorry for him. He witnessed his surviving child die in a train wreck. That would have devastated anyone, including the best Presidents.

[Tristin]

Wow, he lost 3 sons at the age of 11 or younger? No wonder he drank so much. Poor

[iammrbeat]

Here's the story of a President who consistently ranks as one of the worst. Does Franklin Pierce really deserve that ranking?

[franklinpierce]

I'M SORRY OKAY!? IT WAS JEFFERSON DAVIS AND ANDREW JOHNSON'S FAULT. I WAS THE BEST FRIEND OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN!

[SnakeHiggins]

I feel as if a really good movie could come out of the story of Pierce's life. A tragic and dramatic story to be sure.

[medic]

Wow... thanks Mr Beat for making this video 10 years ago. I never knew this about him. I can't imagine losing one child... let alone 3. I feel sorry for both of them.... especially her.

[thomasnenneau]

Your fairness and looking at how life events effect a person is something many historians could benefit from.

[montreljones]

Fun Fact: Franklin Pierce got arrested for running over a old lady with his horse

[LePrince]

One other achievement in his Presidency: Pierce's administration was the one that negotiated (with the Kingdom of Hawaii) the renting of Pearl Harbor for our Navy's use.

[comet]

Your illumination of Franklin Pierce was brilliant! Profusely visualized, you painted a picture of a tortured soul. With what he faced, who might have done better? Thank you for rendering him a soul.

[sambradley]

Pierce went through a tragic experience, he lost his surviving son in a train wreck, it deeply affected him & his wife.

[marthagill]

The music soundtrack is distractingly loud,

[Eazy-ERyder]

Though an inept leader and President how can one NOT Feel bad for the horrific personal tragedies he incurred. It is terrible what the poor guy went through.

[iammrbeat]

Mrbomjam, the vast majority of Presidents were racist.

[BrandonHanson]

Another terrific video. Thank you for covering so much of our former presidents that we do not get taught in school.

M - Major
R - Respect

B - Brilliant
E - Education
A - Amazingly
T - Terrific

[laffinkippah]

It's a tragic story, and I guess he was a product of his time, but I find it really hard to look past the fact that he was pro-slavery.

[PopeLando]

4:03 I think his riding accident may have been due to him unaccountably riding a horse that had a smaller head than he did.

[constantdarkfog]

Yes, you could surly say Franklin Pierce suffered a very tragic family life, losing 3 children is beyond devastating.

[tyler_darkwinner]

Are you gonna re-make this and the James K. Polk one now that you’re doing the longer documentary?

[davidswift]

Losing 3 sons is frightening, nevertheless being a “doughface” is puzzling. Volunteering for during the Mexcan War, and then supporting the Union during the Civil War is worthy of admiration.
The closing, a knowledged overview of his conflicted and tragic life was very fair. Buchanan, Andrew Johnson and the 29th President, Warren Harding were perhaps worse .
Thank you for the post 👍