Edward Everett Quotes

A collection of quotes by Edward Everett.

Edward Everett (1794-1865) was an American politician, diplomat, and educator. Born on April 11, 1794, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he showed great intellectual promise from an early age. After graduating from Harvard University at the age of seventeen, he embarked on a career in academia, becoming a professor of Greek literature at Harvard in 1815.

Everett's passion for education carried over into his public service. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1825 to 1835 and again from 1839 to 1845. As a representative, Everett established a reputation as an eloquent speaker and advocated for several causes, including human rights and education reform.

In 1852, Everett became the governor of Massachusetts, a position he held until 1854 before being appointed as the U.S. Secretary of State by President Millard Fillmore. Serving as the chief diplomat of the United States, he played a vital role in the negotiation of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which aimed to establish a neutral canal in Central America.

However, the role for which Edward Everett is perhaps best remembered is his involvement in the famed Gettysburg Address. As a renowned orator, Everett was invited to give a speech at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863. Although his two-hour-long address received high praise at the time, it was overshadowed by Abraham Lincoln's concise and powerful speech, known today as the Gettysburg Address.

Edward Everett died on January 15, 1865, in Boston, Massachusetts, leaving behind a legacy as an influential educator, politician, and diplomat.