GEORGE W. PIERCE (Josiah6, Josiah5, Josiah4, John3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 2, 1805; m. Nov. 26, 1832, Annie Longfellow,
b. March 3, 1810; d. Nov. 15, 1835. Res. Portland, Me. No children.

George Washington Pierce was born in Baldwin, Maine. His father, born in Woburn, was half-brother of Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford). Mrs. Phebe Pierce was the daughter of Daniel Thompson, who, at the fight of Lexington, was shot through the heart by a retreating British soldier.

From his earliest childhood he was remarkable for an ardent temperament, a desire for noble distinction, for lively fancy and quick intelligence, for prepossessing manners and social tact, for becoming the especial favorite of his old friends, and for easily gaining new ones. He was prepared for college, partly in the academies of Fryeburgh and Saco, and partly at home, under the tuition of Mr. Joseph Howard, now Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine. His chum through the college course at Bowdoin was the Rev. Daniel Shepley. As a member of the Pencinian Society he diligently improved its opportunities for debate and practice in writing, and among the Bowdoin students of that day, since so distinguished at the bar, in the pulpit and in general literature as writers and speakers, he was soon acknowledged eminent for ability in discussion and for vigor and elegance in composition. He observed strictly the maxim of Apelles, Nulla dies sine lined—in permitting no day to pass without studiously writing at least a page on some subject of present interest. Although he ranked well in the recitation room he became greater in the libraries, and was doubtless a more earnest student of the English classics than of the college text-books. Being among the youngest of his class, and very social, active and mirthful, he was a loved and constant companion in the joyous and open-hearted intercourse of college gaiety and sports, but wisely avoided college disgrace, and was graduated honorably. His commencement exercise was a discussion with George B. Cheever, and the two disputants were thought to be well mated. After leaving college he never ceased to manifest a worthy and reciprocated attachment and respect for the officers and fellow-graduates of his alma mater. He chose the law. One year of the required period was passed at Gorham, in the office of his brother Josiah—part of another year in Portland with Mr. Longfellow— and more than a year at the Law School in Northampton, Mass. At Northampton, his classmate was Frank Pierce (afterwards President of the United States). The learned and clear-minded judge Howe was his instructor and encouraged him with many marked expressions of interest and praise. A reflned society of which the learned historian George Bancroft, residing at Round Hill, was a leader and example, admitted him to the communion of its courtesies and enjoyments. He passed the Spring and Summer of 1828 at his brother's house in Gorham —an invalid, but an active oue. It was a time of warm political conflict. The presidential canvass was pending. Mr. Pierce advocated the election of Gen. Jackson, and no one wrote more circulars or spoke at more caucuses, or communicated more articles to the newspapers, than he did. In looking for a place to settle, the great West seemed most strongly to invite him, and he determined to go and see for himself. Taking Washington on his way, he remained there several weeks. His letters to his friends at this time are filled with most animated and graphic descriptions of the men he met and heard—of Clay and Calhoun, and McDuffie, and Adams, and John Randolph —of his conversations with them, of their personal appearance and manners—of the Congress generally, the Capitol, the city and Mt. Vernon, which he visited with deep emotion. His western tour extended to St. Louis. In April he returned from the slow, difficult and sometimes dangerous journey, quite willing to be governed by the friends, who advised and besought him to stay where he was. In July, 1829, he opened an office in Portland, Me. After thus committing himself to his profession, distinction in it became the chief object of his care. He read law diligently, and never ceased to do so while he lived. He admired physical accomplishments, and acquired some skill in fencing, boxing and other manly exercises ; —became tolerably versed in the French language, and was a prominent actor in the literary society of the town. He had already become known to the Democratic party in the vicinity as a ready and able writer, and the services of his pen were soon desired and freely given for political articles in the Portland Argus, the chief journal of that party in the State of Maine. Newspapers of that day, and indeed during both terms of Gen. Jackson's administration, were savage in their attacks on men and measures connected with the hotly disputed questions between the two great parties. It was a time of revolutionary excitement throughout the world—of intense discord in the United States regarding the Bank, the tariff, internal improvements, and the right of secession—to which was added extraordinary local agitation in Maine upon the negotiations respecting the North-eastern boundary, and from the new current of speculation in the State lands,—Mr. Pierce was an increasing contributor to the Argus in these controversies; and once so enlisted, ho could not withdraw from it. The applause of his party, his warm personal feelings, his facility in writing, the necessity of defending positions he had taken, secured him and made him well known as a political disputant. Many young men of great ability, who have since attained high national distinction, were then in Maine, as rivals or opponents, and the leading Whig journal of the State was then edited by the Hon. James Brooks, now of the New York Express, with his well-known ability, in the keenest opposition to the Argus. Thus led into political strife Mr. Pierce continued actively engaged in all public movements of the Democrats in his county. During the years 1831 and 1832, at their caucus meetings, conventions, and festivities, he was constantly in requisition for speeches, resolutions, etc. On the 4th of July, 1832, at the great Democratic celebration, he delivered the oration. But amid all this, he endeavored to give his best thoughts and work to his profession. In September, after a warm contest, he was elected to the Legislature as Representative. In November he married Annie Longfellow, daughter of his former instructor, and sister of his classmate, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, and at once began housekeeping. During the session of the Legislature he was constant in attendance and active and useful. One speech, iu particular, on the South Carolina Resolutions was thought to be very able. In March, 1833, he was appointed County Attorney for Cumberland, and entered at once upon the duties of the office. At the following city municipal election he was chosen a Common Councilman. Such was his popularity, that the Democrats insisted on again sending him to the Legislature. He resigned, not without reluctance, the County Attorneyship, and was elected by a large majority. After another busy and useful winter at the seat of government, he returned to Portland, quite resolved to give himself", thenceforward, strictly to his profession, and to the beneficial influences of his happy and refined home. His legal practice increased and extended to all the courts, but he most esteemed and sought the liberal and technical system of civil law in the Admiralty Court. Evidences of his industry and ability may be seen in the law reports of the time. Sometimes he appears to have relieved the severe labors of his profession by literary writing for the Magazine. Late in the Summer of 1835, the Argus was enlivened by a series of letters from his pen, descriptive of the Northern journey, in which he was accompanied by his wife and her parents. At that time, Canada and the White Mountains were not quite so familiar as they are now. On the 14th of October, he was appointed the Reporter of the Decisions of the Supreme Court of Maine, an important and then lucrative office. His reputation as a lawyer—as an influential and public spirited-citizen—had become well and widely established. Conscious of natural abilities and accomplishments, certain of devoted political and personal friends, of a dignified and pleasant professional position, and of means to secure him from want, and secure in the possession of soothing and ennobling domestic life,—he was now suddenly cut off by death. Making an impression so striking and sad of bereavement to his friends, and of loss to the whole society of which he was a part, that it has never yet changed its hue. He was attacked with typhus fever and after a painful illness of four weeks, died on the 15th day of November.—[From the forthcoming history of Bowdoin College.



Prof. Henry W. Longfellow, writing in reference to Mr. Pierce, says :—
"I have never ceased to feel that in his death something was taken from my own life, which could never be restored. Though particular incidents have faded from my memory, the general impression of his person and character remains ineffaced and unimpaired ; perhaps even more perfect and complete from the lapse of time, as distance enables us to estimate more truly the exact proportions of an object. I have before me always his tall and erect figure, in the vigor of early manhood, his frank and handsome countenance, in which sweetness and energy were mingled, and which in its outlines, though less stern and cold, much resembled the portraits of his grand-uncle, the Count of Rumford. I have constantly in ray memory, also, his beautiful and manly character; frank, generous, impetuous, gentle; by turns joyous and sad—mirthful and serious; elevated by the consciousness of power, depressed by the misgivings of self-distrust; but always kind, always courteous, and, above all, noble in thought, word and deed! Such was the friend of my youth, of whom I have said elsewhere—

'He, the young and brave, who cherished
Ardent longiuas for the strife,
By the road-side fell and perished,
Weary with the march of life.'"


Bio by James Faasen