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D
 W
.
On January 8th, 1782, was born at Franklin, New Hampshire, a son to a
comparatively poor farmer. No royal blood flowed through the veins of this
child whereby to bring him honor, yet one day he was to rise to the
foremost rank among the rulers of his country. At that early period the town
of Salisbury, now Franklin, was the extreme northern settlement in New
Hampshire, and the schools were of necessity in a primitive state.
Daniel Webster labored on his father's farm during the summer, and a few
months of each winter attended the district school some two miles from his
home. Considering the cold, and the heavy snows which are characteristic
of his native State, one can scarcely realize the amount of energy he must
have utilized to enable him to enter Exeter Academy at the early age of
fourteen, and one year later, Dartmouth College. He is represented as
promising nothing of his future greatness at this time, but it is stated that he
pursued every study with 
.
He read widely, especially in history and general English literature, and
thereby laid a good foundation for the splendid education which his
personal energy at last brought him. As a matter of course, such a line of
action must bring out what qualities might be in any man. The college
societies soon sought him as a member.
While at Exeter he could hardly muster courage to speak before his class,
but before he had finished his college course he had delivered addresses
before the societies, which found their way into print. His diligence soon
placed him at the head of his class, a position he maintained until the close
of his college studies, graduating in 1801 with high honors.
Choosing law as his profession, he entered the law office of a friend and
neighbor, Thomas Thompson, who afterwards became a congressman and
eventually a senator. Mr. Webster remained here for some time when he left

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the office to become a teacher in Maine at a salary of $350 per year, which
he enlarged somewhat by copying deeds. He afterwards returned to the
office of Mr. Thompson where he remained until 1804, when he went to
Boston and entered the office of Christopher Gove, who also distinguished
himself afterwards as governor of Massachusetts.
He had previously helped his brother Ezekiel to prepare for college, and
Daniel now in turn was helped to continue his law studies as Ezekiel was
teaching. His opportunity to enter the office of Mr. Gove proved most
fortunate, as he was thus enabled to study men, books and daily hear
intelligent discussions on the topics of national interest.
In 1805 he was admitted to the bar, and established himself at Boscawen.
He had been offered the clerkship of the Hillsboro County Court at a salary
of $1,500 a year, which was then a large income, and he was urged to
accept it by his father and other friends, but was dissuaded from so doing by
Mr. Gove, who foresaw great honor in store for him at the bar. He practiced
at Boscawen one year, when he was admitted to practice in the Superior
Court of New Hampshire, and he established himself at Portsmouth, at that
time the capital of the State. Here he rose to distinction among the most
eminent counsellors. During his nine years residence in Portsmouth he gave
his especial attention to constitutional law, becoming one of the soundest
practitioners in the State.
He had inherited from his father the principles of the Federalist party, and,
therefore, advocated them in speeches on public occasions, but did not for
some years enter into politics. Mr. Webster came forward in a time when