William L. Marcy

"Senator Marcy" redirects here. For the New Hampshire State Senate member, seeDaniel Marcy.

William Marcy
Marcy c. 1856
21stUnited States Secretary of State
In office March 7, 1853 – March 6, 1857
President	Franklin Pierce James Buchanan
Preceded by	Edward Everett
Succeeded by	Lewis Cass
20thUnited States Secretary of War
In office March 6, 1845 – March 4, 1849
President	James K. Polk
Preceded by	William Wilkins
Succeeded by	George W. Crawford
11thGovernor of New York
In office January 1, 1833 – December 31, 1838
Lieutenant	John Tracy
Preceded by	Enos T. Throop
Succeeded by	William H. Seward
United States Senator fromNew York
In office March 4, 1831 – January 1, 1833
Preceded by	Nathan Sanford
Succeeded by	Silas Wright
8thComptroller of New York
In office February 13, 1823 – January 21, 1829
Governor	Joseph C. Yates DeWitt Clinton Nathaniel Pitcher Martin Van Buren
Preceded by	John Savage
Succeeded by	Silas Wright
Personal details
Born	William Learned Marcy (1786-12-12)December 12, 1786 Southbridge,Massachusetts
Died	July 4, 1857(1857-07-04)(aged 70) Ballston Spa, New York,U.S.
Resting place	Albany Rural Cemetery
Political party	Democratic-Republican(before 1825) Democratic(after 1825)
Spouse(s)	Dolly Newell Cornelia Knower
Children	3
Education	Brown University(BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	New York State Militia
Years of service	1812–1823
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	Adjutant General of New York
Battles/wars	War of 1812

William Learned Marcy(December 12, 1786 – July 4, 1857) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served asU.S. Senator,GovernorofNew York,U.S. Secretary of WarandU.S. Secretary of State.In the latter office, he negotiated theGadsden Purchase,the last major acquisition of land in thecontiguous United States.

Born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, Marcy established a legal practice inTroy, New York,after graduating fromBrown University.He fought in theWar of 1812,as anensign,first lieutenantandcaptainin the 155th New York Infantry Regiment. Politically, he aligned with theBucktail factionof theDemocratic-Republican Partyand became a leading member of theAlbany Regency.As the Democratic-Republicans fractured in the 1820s, he became a member of theDemocratic Party.Between 1821 and 1831, he successively served asAdjutant General of New York,New York State Comptroller,and as an associate justice of theNew York Supreme Court.In 1831, the New York legislature elected Marcy to the U.S. Senate, and he held that position until 1833, when he became the Governor of New York. He served three terms as governor until his defeat in 1838 by theWhignominee,William Seward.

He served as Secretary of War underJames K. Polkfrom 1845 to 1849,overseeing theMexican–American War.After leaving the Polk administration, he resumed the practice of law and became a leader of the"Soft" Hunkerfaction of the New York Democratic Party. He returned to the Cabinet in 1853, serving as Secretary of State underFranklin Pierce.In this role, he resolved adispute about the status of U.S. immigrants abroadand directed U.S. diplomats to dress in the plain style of an ordinary American rather than the court-dress many had adopted from Europe. He also negotiated areciprocity treatywithBritish North Americaand the 30,000-square-mile (78,000 km²) Gadsden purchase withMexico,acquiring territory in present-dayArizonaandNew Mexico.He left office in 1857 and died shortly thereafter.

Early life

William Learned Marcy was born in what is nowSouthbridge, Massachusetts,the son of farmer Jedediah Marcy and Ruth (Learned) Marcy. He attended schools inLeicesterand graduated from TheWoodstock Academyin Woodstock,Connecticut,before enrolling atBrown University,from which he graduated in 1808. After receiving his degree, Marcy, taught school inDedham, MassachusettsandNewport, Rhode Island.Hestudied lawwithTroy, New Yorkattorney William L. Bliss, was admitted to the bar in 1811, and began a practice in Troy. Marcy served in the militia during theWar of 1812,first as anensignin the 155th New York Infantry Regiment, and later advancing through the ranks tofirst lieutenantandcaptain.On October 22, 1812, he took part in the storming of the British post atSt. Regis, Canada.He remained with the regiment after the war and attained the rank oflieutenant colonelas its second in command.

Afterward he served as Troy CityRecorderfrom 1816 to 1818 and 1821 to 1823. As he sided with the Anti-Dewitt Clintonfaction of theDemocratic-Republican Party,known as theBucktails,he was removed from office in 1818 after Clinton was elected governor. He was the editor of theTroy Budgetnewspaper.

In 1812, Marcy married Dolly Newell of Southbridge, who died in 1821. On April 28, 1824, he married Cornelia Knower (1801–1889, daughter ofBenjamin Knower) at theKnower HouseinGuilderland, New York.They had three children—Samuel (1820–1862), Edmund (1832–1853), and Cornelia (1834–1888). Samuel Marcy was aUnited States Navyofficer who was killed on board the USSVincennesduring theAmerican Civil War.Edmund was ill when he died on board the USSPreblewhile going to theAzoresin the hopes of regaining his health. Cornelia Marcy was the wife of Edmund Henry Pendleton (1845–1910), aUnion Armyveteran who later became a successful author.

State politics

Gubernatorial portrait of William L. Marcy

Marcy became the leading member of theAlbany Regency,a group of Democratic politicians who controlled State politics between 1821 and 1838. He wasAdjutant General of New Yorkwith the rank ofbrigadier generalfrom 1821 to 1823,New York State Comptrollerfrom 1823 to 1829, and an associate justice of theNew York Supreme Courtfrom 1829 to 1831.

In1831,he was electedU.S. Senator from New Yorkby the state legislature as aJacksonian Democrat,and served from March 4, 1831, to January 1, 1833. He resigned upon taking office as governor, to which position he was elected in 1832. He sat on theU.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciaryin the22nd Congress.Defending Jackson's nomination ofMartin Van Burenas minister to the United Kingdom in 1832, Marcy used the phrase "'to the victor belong the spoils," from which the termspoils systemis derived to refer to patronage political appointments.

Marcy was elected asGovernor of New Yorkfor three terms, from 1833 until 1838. As governor he checked the issue of bank charters by the legislature and secured the enactment, in 1838, of a general banking law, which abolished the monopoly features that resulted from the old banking system.In1838,he was defeated byWhigWilliam H. Seward,which led to a radical change in state politics and then ended the Regency. To the abolitionists who questioned the candidates for governor, Marcy was considered a "doughface,"a man with Southern sympathies. He was well aware of the importance of Southern cotton and trade for New York state, both as a major part of exports from New York City and to the textile mills of upstate that processed cotton from the Deep South.

Marcy was appointed as a member of theMexican Claims Commission,serving from 1839 to 1842. Later he was recognized as one of the leaders of theHunkers,the conservative, office-seeking, and pro-compromise-on-slavery faction of theDemocratic Partyin New York.

Federal politics

Marcy served asUnited States Secretary of Warin theCabinetofPresidentJames K. Polkfrom 1845 until 1849, when he resumed the practice of law in New York. After 1849, Marcy led the "Soft" faction of the Hunkers that supported reconciliation with the Barnburners. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1852 but was unsuccessful, in part by "Hard" opposition led byDaniel S. Dickinson.

Secretary of State

Marcy returned to public life in 1853 to serve asUnited States Secretary of Stateunder PresidentFranklin Pierce.On June 1 of that year, he issued a circular to American diplomatic agents abroad, recommending that whenever practicable, they should appear in the simple dress of an American citizen. This directive created much discussion in Europe, where diplomats typically worecourt dress.In 1867, Marcy's recommendation was enacted into law by the US Congress.

Marcy resolved theKoszta Affair(1853), related to detention of an unnaturalized American resident by Austria, gaining his freedom. He negotiated theGadsden Purchasefrom Mexico in the Southwest, the last major land acquisition in thecontiguous United States.It added land to what are now the states of New Mexico and Arizona. With a southern route of territory all under United States control, southerners worked to promote a railroad from Texas to San Diego but were not successful.

In 1854 Marcy had to deal with the complications growing out of the bombardment of Greytown (nowSan Juan de Nicaragua), by the United States warshipCyanein retaliation for insults offered the American minister by its inhabitants and for their refusal to make restitution for damages to American property. The expedition ofWilliam Walkerto Nicaragua, and his assumption of its Presidency, in 1855, further complicated the Central American question.

Upon the 1854 seizure bySpainof the American vesselBlack Warrior,on the ground that this vessel had violated the customs regulations of the port ofHavana,some propagandists in theUnited States Congressas well asPierre Soulé,the American minister in Spain, seemed to prefer war and make possible the seizure ofCuba.It was largely due to Marcy's influence that war was averted, Spain restored the confiscated cargo, paid restitution, and remitted the captain's fine. Three American diplomats met to discuss the future of Cuba, but the resultingOstend Manifestowas quite unexpected, and Marcy promptly disavowed the document.

TheCrimean Warled to a diplomatic controversy withGreat Britainbecause of British recruiting in several American cities, and in May 1856, the papers of the British representativeSir John Cramptonand several consuls were revoked. The following year the British government sentSir Francis Napierto Washington to take Crampton's place. A diplomatic disagreement with Britain caused Marcy to reject theDeclaration of Parisof 1856, which would have set the rules of international maritime law.

Other affairs that demanded Marcy's attention were aCanadian tariff reciprocity treaty,CommodoreMatthew C. Perry's negotiations for naval and trade access with Japan, and a British fishery dispute.

Death

The gravesite of William L. Marcy

Marcy died atBallston Spa, New York,on July 4, 1857.He was buried at theRural CemeteryinAlbany, New York.

Legacy and honors

Marcy depicted on the Series 1880 $1,000silver certificate.

• TheUnited States Revenue CutterWilliam L. Marcy,launched in 1853, was named in his honor.
• His portrait appeared on American paper currency, the U.S. $1000 Silver Certificate, issued between 1878 and 1891.
• Marcy Street in his hometown Southbridge, Massachusetts was named for him. He was also born on this street on the corner of Main Street and Marcy Street which is now the site of the St. John Paul II Parish.
• Mount Marcyin Essex County, at 1629 meters, the highest peak in New York, was named for him.
• TheTown of MarcyinOneida Countywas named for him.
• Fort Marcyin Santa Fe, New Mexico
• TheMarcy Projects,public housing in Brooklyn, New York, were named for him.
• Marcy School in Minneapolis, was named for him. When Minneapolis neighborhoods were later named for their schools, theMarcy-Holmes neighborhoodhonored Marcy School and Holmes School.

Sources

• United States Congress."William L. Marcy (id: M000127)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Marcy, William Learned".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 696–697.
• "William Learned Marcy".Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army.United States Army Center of Military History.RetrievedOctober 27,2016.
• "Marcy, William Learned".The Political Graveyard.Lawrence Kestenbaum.RetrievedOctober 27,2016.
• "Descendants of Benjamin Knower of Roxbury".Knower family in America.rootsweb.RetrievedOctober 27,2016.

Further reading

• Spencer, Ivor Debenham,The Victor and the Spoils: A Life of William L. Marcy,Brown University Press (1959).
• Spencer, Ivor D. “William L. Marcy Goes Conservative.” The Mississippi Valley Historical Review 31, no. 2 (1944): 205–24.online.