Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce (born Hillsboro, New Hampshire, 1804; died Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869) was the fourteenth president (1853-1857) of the United States. He was a darkhorse candidate, facing General Winfield Scott. One of his accomplishments was the Gadsden Purchase. Children can visit a website at: Franklin Pierce.
Edward Rutledge (born Charleston, South Carolina, 1749; died Charleston, South Carolina, January 23, 1800) signed the Declaration of Independence. He had studied law in England before he returned to South Carolina. He was the youngest signer of the document (26 years old). Other members of his family also became ardent patriots. He was defending South Carolina when he was captured and placed in a prison in Florida for over a year. The British were so outraged at his family’s activities that they imprisoned his mother, Sarah Hext Rutledge, in Charleston. After the war, he served as governor of South Carolina from 1798 to 1800. Children could learn more at: Edward Rutledge.
Marc Simont (born Paris, France, 1915; died Cornwall, Connecticut, July 13, 2013) was a political cartoonist, artist, and illustrator of children’s books. In 1950 he received a Caldecott Honor Award for The Happy Day, written by Ruth Kraus. He won a Caldecott Medal in 1957 for A Tree is Nice, written by Janice May Udry, and he won another Caldecott Medal in 2002 for his book, The Stray Dog. He also illustrated the first 20 Nate the Great books. Children can learn more at: Marc Simont.
Gloria Whelan (born Detroit, Michigan, 1923) has written at least 50 books for children and adults. Her children’s books include A Clearing in the Forest and Bringing the Farmhouse Home. Children could explore her website: Gloria Whelan.