William H. Seward

(May 16, 1801 - October 16, 1872)

William Henry Seward was born in Florida, New York. He served as New York State Senator from 1831 through 1834, as Governor of New York from 1839 through 1843 and US senator from New York from 1849 through 1861. He was appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln in 1861 and served through 1869. He negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

He was an "Anti-Jacksonian," a part of the Anti-Masonic party, dedicated to getting the Masons out of government, he was against slavery, and was against radical reconstruction.  His anti-slavery stance caused him to say that there was a "higher law than the Constitution," which is probably something he's remembered for almost as much as Alaska.