The bust of William Henry Seward was created by Daniel Chester French (dedicated on Sept. 24, 1930) who also sculpted the statue of President Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately for the second year in a row, the Florida Historical Society has not been able to celebrate William Henry Seward’s birthday (due to COVID restrictions).
His birthday has been celebrated for three decades beginning with a wreath laying ceremony at Florida’s Seward Monument. The bust of Seward was created by Daniel Chester French (dedicated on Sept. 24, 1930) who also sculpted the statue of President Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The past public gatherings included performances by the 4th and 7th graders in the S.S. Seward Institute cafetorium. This year would have been a very special celebration as this is his 220th birthday.
However, we were able to place our traditional wreath at the Seward Monument again this year. Thank you, Alders Wholesale Florist in Campbell Hall for donating beautiful wreaths for the past 31 years.
Our native son William Henry Seward was born on May 16, 1801, in Florida, New York, and won a seat in the State Senate in 1830, was Governor from 1838-1840 and was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he became a leading antislavery politician.
Growing up in Florida, N.Y., he preferred spending time with the slaves in the kitchen rather than joining in the stuffy conversation going on in the “parlor.” This was the beginning of his abolitionist views and he was a valued voice committed to continuing this country’s strength and freedoms.
Seward was appointed as Secretary of State by Lincoln on March 5, 1861, and served until March 4, 1869. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was the necessary legislation, initiated by William Henry Seward, working with President Lincoln and the Senate, which gave slaves the opportunity to have a free life in the United States.
Believing, along with Lincoln, that the U.S. needed a naval base in the Caribbean, in January 1865, Seward offered to purchase the Danish West Indies (today the United States Virgin Islands).
Later that year, Seward sailed for the Caribbean on a naval vessel, where Seward admired the large, easily defended harbor. He carefully managed international affairs during the Civil War and also negotiated the 1867 purchase of Alaska.
To celebrate William Henry Seward’s 220th birthday anniversary, at your next meal, give a toast to honor him and his achievements.
Gary Randall
Florida Historical Society