Benjamin Pierce (13 April [O.S. 1 April] 1841 – 6 January [O.S. 25 December 1852] 1853) was the third son and third and final child born to the First Family, Franklin Pierce and Jane Means Appleton Pierce.
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Benjamin was born in Concord, New Hampshire as the third son and third and final child of the First Family. His older brothers were Franklin Jr. (2 – 5 February 1836), who died aged 3 days and Franklin Robert "Frank" (27 August 1839 – 14 November 1843), who died aged four as a result of contracting typhus fever. He was, thus, the only son born to the couple to survive his early childhood years. The deaths of Franklin Jr. and Frank Robert had, understandably, made Jane fear for Benjamin's, whom they had nicknamed Benny, life[1]. In November 1843, both Benny and Frank contracted typhus fever, but only the younger Benny survived the illness; Frank succumbed to the illness aged four. Shortly before this incident, Jane convinced Franklin, then just a senator, to leave Washington, because "[Washington] is tainted by the evils of politics"[1]. To please his wife, Franklin resigned his senate in 1842 and moved back to Concord, where he practiced law[1]. While life in Concord was pleasing for both Jane and her sons, Franklin could never stand to be away from the excitement of the public life[1]. After Frank died, Jane's contentment was completely shattered[1]. Franklin sought and found an escape: the outbreak of the Mexican–American War was the perfect opportunity to leave Concord[1]. He joined the army, was made a brigadier general and took an active part in the war[1]. Jane and Benny remained at their house in Concord until the war ended, in February 1848, when Franklin returned to resume their quiet life in New Hampshire[1].
In 1852, when Franklin was nominated as the Democratic-Republican presidential candidate, he leapt at the chance to re-enter politics[1]. Jane, on the other hand, prayed for his defeat[1]. She detested politics and feared Washington D.C.[1]. Unfortunately for both Benny and Jane, Franklin won the election. Feeling defeated, Jane forgave her husband and decided to accept the situation[1]. To celebrate both Christmas and Franklin's election, the small family set out for a Boston respite before presidential politics would be entered with his Washington inauguration[1]. After the vacation, as their train was nearing their Concord home, in Andover, Massachusetts, an axle broke and the train jumped the track and went over a fifteen-foot embankment[1]. Franklin and Jane received only minor injuries, such as bruises and scrapes[1], but, as they lifted their heads, they witnessed their only son, Benny, being crushed beneath the rail road car[1]. He was the only passenger killed in the accident[1]. In Old Style dates, Benny died on Christmas Day.
Benny was buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord, the burial place of his brother Frank[1]. Jane Pierce never quite recovered from this tragic incident. Having fought so hard to keep her husband from returning to politics, took Benny's death as a "divine punishment meted out for [Franklin]'s political ambition"[1].
The shadow of Benny's death hung over the Pierce White House. Jane only came to the White House to sit in a rocking chair for hours and scribble notes to her dead sons, Benny and Frank[1]. Jane eventually retreated in a fantasy world, where she talked and played with all of her dead sons, Franklin Jr., Frank and Benny[1].