David Rice Atchison
American politician and general
Born
August 11th, 1807
217 years ago
Died
January 26th, 1886
139 years ago — 78 years old
Category
Leaders & Politicians
Country
United States
Links & References
Served as a United States Senator from Missouri and participated in the military during the Mexican-American War. Atchison was Senate President Pro Tempore and acted as President of the United States for a single day. He played a role in the events surrounding the Bleeding Kansas crisis and supported the expansion of slavery into the territories. His tenure in the Senate highlighted the sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.
Served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Acted as President of the United States for one day
Supported pro-slavery forces during Bleeding Kansas
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