Benjamin Pierce

The Franklin Pierce rail accident was a train derailment that occurred in Andover, Massachusetts, on January 6, 1853. The incident resulted in the death of Benjamin "Benny" Pierce, born on April 13, 1841, in Concord, New Hampshire. He was the only surviving son of Franklin Pierce, who was elected President of the United States in 1852, succeeding Millard Fillmore.

Background

In 1852, Franklin Pierce was elected to the presidency, a victory that placed considerable emotional strain on his wife, Jane Pierce. The couple had previously experienced the loss of two of their three sons: Franklin Pierce Jr., who died in infancy, and Frank Robert Pierce, who died at age four from typhus. At the time of the accident, Benjamin was 11 years old.

The family had been celebrating both Christmas and Pierce’s successful election during a vacation in Boston. Following this holiday period, in January 1853, they traveled to Andover, Massachusetts. The purpose of their visit is recorded as either attending a funeral or enjoying a holiday vacation. On the return journey to Concord, New Hampshire, the family boarded a train comprising two cars, beginning their trip back home.

Accident

Around 1:00 p.m., approximately three miles from the Andover station—though some accounts cite a location between Argyle and Arundel Street—the train encountered a problem when one of its axles fractured after running over rocks on the tracks. The derailment caused the coach carrying Franklin Pierce and his family to tumble down an embankment that was roughly 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) below the track level, resulting in the destruction of the automobile.

Benjamin Pierce, who was standing at the time, was fatally injured in the derailment. He was the sole fatality among the family members. Franklin Pierce and Jane Pierce escaped with minor injuries. Franklin Pierce, upon seeing his son’s nearly decapitated body, covered it with a cloth to shield his wife from the sight.

Aftermath

News of the accident quickly spread nationwide. Initial reports incorrectly suggested that Franklin Pierce was among the fatalities. Benjamin Pierce was buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord, where his older brother, Frank, was also interred.

Effect on Presidency

The accident profoundly affected Franklin and Jane Pierce. Franklin Pierce appeared emotionally drained as he began his presidential term. Jane Pierce was so grief-stricken that she did not attend her husband’s inauguration nor participate in Benjamin’s burial service. In a personal letter, Franklin Pierce described feeling "crushed" by the tragedy but emphasized his sense of duty to fulfill presidential responsibilities. Due to Jane’s grief and the absence of the Vice President William R. King—who was suffering from tuberculosis—the inaugural ball was canceled.

Jane Pierce, influenced by her Puritan upbringing, believed the accident was divine punishment for her husband's pursuit of politics against her wishes. She refused to use a Bible when taking the presidential oath and spent much of his administration mourning in seclusion. She wore black continuously, corresponded with her deceased son through letters, and reportedly engaged in séances to communicate with him.

The trauma from the accident, combined with the subsequent death of Jane Pierce in 1863, is believed to have contributed to Franklin Pierce's increased alcohol consumption. Pierce died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1869 at age 64.

References

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