On July 10, 1850, Millard Fillmore solemnly took the Oath of Office as the 13th President of the United States following the sudden, tragic death of Zachary Taylor. Thrust into the nation’s highest office during a time of intense sectional crisis, Fillmore had to navigate a deeply divided government. His unexpected presidency forced him to immediately manage escalating national tensions regarding the expansion of slavery and the preservation of the Union.
Years after his presidency concluded, Fillmore’s fierce dedication to civic duty took a unique, localized turn during the American Civil War. He personally organized and commanded the Union Continentals, a specialized home guard militia consisting of older professional men from western New York. This dedicated company was actively maintained to protect the critical Buffalo region from potential Confederate raids and domestic sabotage.
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