Jane Pierce

Jane Means Pierce (née Appleton) was born on March 12, 1806, in Hampton, New Hampshire. Her parents were Jesse Appleton, a Congregationalist minister, and Elizabeth Means Appleton. The family relocated to Brunswick, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), where her father became president of Bowdoin College in 1807. Jesse Appleton's health declined due to a strict fasting diet, leading to his death in 1819. Subsequently, Jane and her family resided with her maternal grandmother in Amherst, New Hampshire.

Jane Appleton received a thorough education that included public schooling and homeschooling, and she attended Miss Catherine Fiske's Young Ladies Seminary in Keene, New Hampshire. She was skilled in music and literature and was deeply religious, with an evangelical Calvinist upbringing. Her health was generally poor throughout her childhood, with frequent severe winter colds.

In her early adulthood, she was characterized by shyness, devoutness, and temperance. She met Franklin Pierce during his law studies at Bowdoin College; they married on November 19, 1834. Their wedding took place while Pierce was serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Their relationship was marked by contrasting personalities—Pierce was outgoing and politically inclined, while Jane was reserved and reclusive.

The couple resided in several locations, including Washington, D.C., and various towns in New Hampshire. Jane often chose to live separately from Franklin during his political career, including periods when he served in the State Legislature and as a senator. They had three sons: Franklin Jr., born in 1836 and died three days later; Frank Robert, born in 1839 and died in 1843 at age four; and Benjamin, born in 1841 and died at age eleven in a train accident before Franklin Pierce's inauguration as president.

The Pierces' domestic life was disrupted by the deaths of their children, particularly the death of Benjamin, which deeply affected Jane. She dedicated herself to raising their surviving son, Benjamin, with strict religious discipline and avoided public duties.

Franklin Pierce was elected the Democratic nominee for president in 1852, and Jane learned of his nomination shortly before he was officially announced. She reportedly fainted upon hearing the news and opposed his candidacy, praying for his defeat. Nevertheless, he won the election. Before his inauguration, their son Benjamin was killed in a train accident, which caused Jane to enter a prolonged period of mourning.

During Franklin Pierce's presidency from 1853 to 1857, Jane Pierce was characterized by her reclusiveness and desire for privacy. She did not participate actively in White House social functions and wore black attire as a symbol of mourning. Her duties were often performed by her close friend Abby Kent-Means, and she engaged primarily in private Bible study. She avoided social engagements and declined to oversee White House operations herself.

Pierce's religious convictions influenced her daily life and the conduct of the White House, including the organization of religious services. She maintained correspondence with her late son through letters and attempted contact through séances involving the Spiritualism movement. She expressed concern over her husband's drinking habits and was reportedly deeply pious in his presence.

She took some interest in political issues such as abolitionism, following Congressional debates on the subject. After leaving the presidency, Jane and Franklin Pierce traveled abroad for approximately two years before settling in Massachusetts. Jane Pierce died of tuberculosis on December 2, 1863.