Turtledove
Advertisement
William H. Seward
Seward
Historical Figure
Nationality: United States
Year of Birth: 1801
Year of Death: 1872
Cause of Death: Natural causes
Religion: Episcopalianism
Occupation: Lawyer, Politician, Author of Non-Fiction
Spouse: Frances Adeline Seward
Children: Six
Political Party: Anti-Masonic Party
Whig Party
Republican Party
Political Office(s): Governor of New York,
United States Senator from New York,
U.S. Secretary of State
Fictional Appearances:
The Guns of the South
POD: January 17, 1864
Type of Appearance: Direct
Political Office(s): U.S. Secretary of State

William Henry Seward, Sr. (May 16, 1801 - October 10, 1872) was a Governor of New York, United States Senator, and the United States Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

Seward had been an early contender for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 1860, but his outspoken opposition to slavery probably cost him. Initially skeptical of Lincoln, he soon became one of the President's most loyal allies and cabinet members. Seward survived a knife wound inflicted by an accomplice of John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, the same night Lincoln was assassinated. He orchestrated the US purchase of Russian Alaska in 1867.

William Seward in The Guns of the South[]

Secretary of State William Seward was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to treat with the victorious Confederate States after the Second American Revolution.

After an armistice was negotiated in 1864, Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis agreed to a peace conference with three Peace Commissioners appointed by each side. Lincoln appointed Seward as one of the three U.S. commissioners. A peace treaty was negotiated whereby the Confederacy abandoned claims to West Virginia and Maryland, while the United States ceded the Indian Territory along with any areas within the Confederacy it captured earlier in the war. Also, state-wide referendum were to be held to determine the status of Kentucky and Missouri. Kentucky elected to join the C.S. while Missouri voted to remain with the U.S.

Political offices
(OTL)
Preceded by
Jeremiah Black
United States Secretary of State
1861-1869
Succeeded by
Elihu B. Washburne
Preceded by
John A. Dix
United States Senator from New York
1849-1861
Succeeded by
Ira Harris
Preceded by
William L. Marcy
Governor of New York
1839-1842
Succeeded by
William C. Bouck
Political offices
(The Guns of the South)
Preceded by
Jeremiah Black
United States Secretary of State
1861-1865
Succeeded by
Unknown
Advertisement