David Rice Atchison |
On March 4, 1849, a Sunday, James Knox Polk ended his term as President, and Zachary Taylor was scheduled to be sworn in as the twelfth president. Taylor objected to taking his oath on a Sunday on religious grounds, so he opted for the following Monday. The President Pro Tem of the Senate, David Rice Atchison, was next in the line of succession, since the Vice-President's term had expired also, so some say he was President for a day. Some historians dispute this, but we love the possibility! According to family lore, our maternal Grandmother, Madelyn Atchison was related to David Rice Atchison. I believe he was supposed to be our Great, great, great Grand Uncle. We have not found the link yet, but if it's there we eventually will. In the meantime, I found the material on this page on the internet. It is the greatest thing to be able to drop into a conversation that I am related to a President of the United States. Adding that he was President for one day only increases the awe.... |
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Web design by Jack |
This bust is located in the Missouri Statehouse |
These tonbstones are located in the Greenlawn Cemetary, Plattsburg, Missouri |
Greenlawn Cemetery, Plattsburg, Clinton County, Missouri is where David R. Atchison is buried |
This statue of DRA is located on the Clinton County Courthouse grounds |
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Here lies David Rice Atchison |
This image is from a daugerratype of DRA |
This is DRA's signature, under which someone has written "President for one day 3/4 Sunday" |
