Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster (1782–1852) was an American statesman and renowned orator. Born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, he became a leading lawyer and national political figure in the early republic. Webster served in the U.S. House of Representatives and later as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, where he was a prominent defender of the Union and a key voice in debates over federal power. He delivered widely celebrated speeches, including his “Second Reply to Hayne” (1830). Webster also served as U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, and again under Millard Fillmore, helping shape U.S. foreign policy.