SEWARD, WILLIAM HENRY

(1801statesman, 6. in 72), an American Orange co., New York. He Florida, and at Union College, 1820, graduated In ted to the bar, 1822. was admit was elected to the New York 1830 he Senate as an anti Mason ic can dist ate governor date. He was elected Whig in 1838, and re-ele cted in of New York was exceptionally he became one oc the leaders of made over criminal cases, and afterwards as a patent lawyer. He was attacked by an accomplice of J. Wilkes Booth in 1868 and severely wounded, but recovered, and remained in the cabinet under President Johnson. As Secretary of State he averted complications with Great Britain by his diplomatic skill in persuading France to withdraw her troops from Mexico. In 1867 he concluded the purchase of Alaska from Ru ia, which was the greatest achievement of all his many good works.