Biography fillmore millard presidential library

by Reneé Critcher Lyons

Having grown-up in a cabin in upstate New York with only a Bible, hymnal, and almanac as reading material, President Millard Fillmore was the type of person who would give his life for a book – and he almost did.

Enjoying the holidays with his family on an early Christmas Eve morn, 1851, he heard the Washington, D.C. fire chiefs call “Fire! Fire! The Library of Congress is on fire.” He rushed to join the eight fire “engines,” wagons loaded with water barrels and hoses, pulled by draft horses.

He and several of his cabinet members, as well as other congressmen, pitched in to help. The president also gave orders to the bucket brigade formed by United States Marines from the local navy yard.

See full list on ourwhitehouse.org

The line worked until noon Christmas Day without fail, President Fillmore at the head, flames flickering near his thick head of snow-white hair. Although 35,000 books burned in this tragic fire, President Fillmore didn’t give up on his passion.

He pushed Congre