The Pierce Brigade Presents “Pierce’s Passion”

Pierce Biographer Peter Wallner explores former President’s long standing passion for military service at the Manse on October 24

The Pierce Brigade presents “Pierce’s Passion: Military Service,” a lecture by Peter A. Wallner on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. The program is part of a year long series focused on New Hampshire history and culture. Held at the Pierce Manse in Concord, the Brigade Lecture Series is free and open to the public.

Throughout his life and his presidency, Franklin Pierce maintained a love of the military. Peter Wallner will trace the story of Pierce's connection to the military through the experiences of his family members, his activity with the state militia, as a Brigadier General in the Mexican War, military policy during his presidency, and, finally, to his rejection of military action in the Civil War.

Peter A. Wallner is the former Library Director of the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. He moved to New Hampshire in 2002 to research and write a biography of New Hampshire’s own Franklin Pierce. Wallner’s two volumes, Franklin Pierce: New Hampshire’s Favorite Son and Franklin Pierce: Martyr for the Union, were published in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Prior to taking up residency in New Hampshire, Wallner worked for thirty years as a teacher and administrator at private schools in Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Most recently, he was Headmaster of the Pen Ryn School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. He earned a Ph.D. in History from the Pennsylvania State University and continues to teach a course on Presidential Leadership at Franklin Pierce University.

“President Pierce’s military service influenced him throughout his life and political career,” commented Joan Woodhead, President of the Pierce Brigade. “Peter Wallner returns to the Manse this month to explore how this experience influenced his decisions as a leader.”

Brigade Lecture Series programs typically occur on the fourth Thursday of each month and are open to the public. The October program concludes the 2013 lecture series. For more information on President Pierce’s historic home, visit www.piercemanse.org.

About the Pierce Brigade

The Pierce Brigade is the membership organization dedicated to preserving the home and legacy of President Franklin Pierce. President Pierce and his family owned the Pierce Manse from 1842-1848. In 1971, the Pierce Manse was saved from demolition by the Pierce Brigade and moved to its current location at 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.piercebrigade.org.