# Anything special about Millard Filmore? - 13th President of the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454 "2002-10-01T22:22:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/1 "2002-10-01T22:22:30Z")
Per this [biography](http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/mf13.html) he seems pretty colorless. Is he known for anything more than the listed western state expansion negotiations and the 1850 Compromise (Fugitive Slave Act) ? ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/2 "2002-10-01T22:25:05Z")
Isn’t he that duck in the funny pages? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/3 "2002-10-01T23:11:44Z")
I just remember that in Cub Scouts my group had to give a presentation about the presidents, each of us picking one and giving a short 2-minute or so speech about him. Everyone picked Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Jefferson, etc. and I picked Filmore. Why? I don’t know - probably because I never heard of him. To think I could have had Chester Arthur instead.:smack: Can’t remember anything about Filmore though. I have a good book of presidential history at home, though; I’ll check him out later. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/4 "2002-10-02T00:01:55Z")
He’s notorious for being the least notorious president. I read some study that said if you asked people to “name a random number between 1 and 100,” some very large percentage would choose 37. Why? Because it sounds most “random.” Of course, this makes no sense, but that’s what people pick. Millard Fillmore is the 37 of U.S. presidents. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/5 "2002-10-02T00:14:42Z")
There’s a club dedicated to his memory that goes by the acronym SPERMFLOW (Society for the Preservation and Enhancement of the Recognition of Millard Fillmore, Last Of the Whigs). I used to belong. They have a newsletter called “The Fillmore Bungle”. I had an English teacher in high school who didn’t know Millard Fillmore had been a President, and she refused to believe me when I told her. I had to go get my history book and show her to make her stop insisting I was lying. She thought I was trying to trick her. Frighteningly, I think the year after I graduated, she started teaching the cross-over American History/American Lit class. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/6 "2002-10-02T00:35:25Z")
Some highlights of Millard Fillmore’s career and administration: U.S. Representative, 1833-1835, 1837-1843 – As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, drafted the Tariff Act of 1842 Comptroller of NY State, 1849-1849 – promoted expansion of the Erie Canal system Vice President, 1849-1850 – Fillmore had never met Zachary Taylor, the presidential candidate, until after they were elected – Presided over Senate debate of the Compromise of 1850 – Was largely ignored by Taylor and had little influence in the administration – Became president after Taylor’s death in July 1850 President, 1850-1853 – Compromise of 1850 Reversing Taylor’s administration’s position, Fillmore embraced the Compromise, which included the admission of CA as a free state and the Fugitive Slave Act, mentioned in the OP. – Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) was the result of Fillmore’s sending Commodore Matthew C. Perry to Japan to work out a treaty opening trade and shipping rights in Japan. The Whig party was not pleased with Fillmore’s support of the Fugitive Slave Act, which cost him the nomination in 1852. In 1856 he was nominated for President by the American (Know-Nothing) Party, and actually carried one state (Maryland) in the election. That election was won by Buchanan. Fillmore supported the Union in the Civil War, but was looked upon unfavorably for his support of the Fugitive Slave Act and other pro-Southern policies during his political career. Source: William A. DeGregorio, The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents So, to answer your original question: > [@](#): > > Is he known for anything more than the listed western state expansion negotiations and the 1850 Compromise (Fugitive Slave Act) ? The answer is: no, not really. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/7 "2002-10-02T01:02:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*Millard Fillmore is the 37 of U.S. presidents. \*\* 37th? That sounds wrong. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/8 "2002-10-02T01:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > \*\* > > 37th? That sounds wrong. > > Cite? \*\* Ah! METAPHOR (duh…) Muste lern too rede ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/9 "2002-10-02T01:08:07Z")
He is one of the 16 Presidents that GWBush is related to. [http://archive.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/03/31/bush/print.html](http://archive.salon.com/politics2000/feature/2000/03/31/bush/print.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/10 "2002-10-02T01:08:51Z")
Well, he had some unusual names. In fact, was both a Millard AND a Fillmore. Pretty remarkable when you think about it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/11 "2002-10-02T01:25:15Z")
We are the mediocre presidents. You won’t find our faces on dollars or on cents! There’s Taylor, there’s Tyler, There’s [Fillmore](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/9F13.html) and there’s Hayes. There’s William Henry Harrison, Harrison: I died in thirty days! We… are… the… Adequate, forgettable, Occasionally regrettable Caretaker presidents of the U-S-A! ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/12 "2002-10-02T01:26:40Z")
Cecil thought he was worth [a column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_107.html). ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/13 "2002-10-02T01:46:26Z")
Fillmore was the second(and last) whig to be elected VP and the second(and last) whig to advance to the presidency due to death of the previous President. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/14 "2002-10-02T06:28:57Z")
Bah. He was clearly no David Rice Atchison. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/15 "2002-10-02T10:31:21Z")
I think the Brady kids went to Fillmore Junior High School. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/16 "2002-10-02T16:24:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > \*\*Bah. He was clearly no David Rice Atchison. \*\* [http://www.snopes.com/history/american/atchison.htm](http://www.snopes.com/history/american/atchison.htm) He was no President. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/17 "2002-10-02T16:58:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mahaloth \* > \*\* > > [http://www.snopes.com/history/american/atchison.htm](http://www.snopes.com/history/american/atchison.htm) > > He was no President. \*\* Maybe not, but Atchison was born in a town called “Frogtown”, and you just have to be impressed by that. Plus, he did the whole Kansas-Nebraska Act thing. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/18 "2002-10-02T17:06:13Z")
From [Dave Barry Slept Here](http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y03Y1954610Y1789555/qid=1033577855/sr=1-1/103-6516460-5839828): > [@](#): > > The earth did not crash into the sun. ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/19 "2002-10-02T17:34:01Z")
Fillmore is also notable for the popular music theaters he founded in New York and San Francisco 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-special-about-millard-filmore-13th-president-of-the-u-s/130454/20 "2002-10-02T17:42:27Z")
Hey, don’t be picking on Millard!! I had the distinct honor of working on the team selected by the Cayuga County Board of Legislators to design and build the Millard Fillmore Trail connecting Skaneateles Lake and the Village of Moravia, where the Chief Executive in question was born. Besides, of many Presidents has it been said by their opponents that they Know Nothing – but of our Presidents, only Fillmore ran for President under that party designation!