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Signed Book. Obituary Addresses on the Occasion of the Death of the Hon. William R. King . Washington, D.C., Beverly Tucker, 1854. 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. King was vice president under Franklin Pierce for six weeks in 1853 before he died of tuberculosis. He earlier served as a Representative from North Carolina and Senator from Alabama. The Senate and House cohort of William R. King, Franklin Pierce's Vice President, eulogize their colleague in their respective chambers. This Obituary prints addresses by Senators Robert M.T. Hunter of Virginia, Edward Everett of Massachusetts, Lewis Cass of Michigan, Stephen Douglas of Illinois, and John M. Clayton of Delaware, along with their House of Representative counterparts: Representatives Sampson W. Harris of Alabama, Joseph R. Chandler of Pennsylvania, John L. Taylor of Ohio, William S. Ashe of North Carolina, Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, Philip Phillips of Alabama, and a personal friend: Mr. Milton Latham. These addresses were delivered in the Senate and House of Representatives on December 8, 1853. SIGNED by Judah P. Benjamin and William H. Seward on ffep. Judah Benjamin, would be the Jewish Secretary of State of the Confederacy, has signed "J. P. Benjamin" on the front free endpaper. Also signed by numerous Senators and Representatives-William Seward, Solomon Foot, John S. Wells, Jackson Morton, Benjamin Fitzpatrick, John Bell, Josiah J. Evans, Andrew Butler, Lewis Cass, Lawrence Brainerd, John Thompson, and Francis Gillette.Isaac Holland's signature appears on the final endpaper, along with the four clipped signatures that have been affixed to the page-John Pettit, Clement Clay, Charles Upham, and Benjamin Perley Poore.Known as "the brains of the Confederacy," Judah Benjamin (1811-1834) served in the Louisiana state legislature and U.S. Senate before joining Jefferson Davis's cabinet first as Attorney General, then Secretary of War, and finally as Secretary of State. A New Orleans lawyer, Davis had given Benjamin the post of attorney general until deciding he needed him in a more important role. In September 1861 he was moved to the War Department. His closeness to Davis-and his Jewish faith-attracted resentment from jealous rivals. With the loss of Roanoke Island in 1862, along with Grant's capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, critics demanded Benjamin's blood. Davis responded by promoting him to Secretary of State, a post he held until the collapse of the Confederacy. Initially part of Davis's contingent when the Confederate president fled Richmond in women's clothing, Benjamin escaped to England where he thrived as a lawyer and was named to the Queen's council. He retired in 1883. Hardcover binding shows some age and chipping to the spine and corners. Text is complete, clean and unmarked. A nice copy with a fantastic association signature! Not Ex-Lib. Seller Inventory # 100142
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