M Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore (1800–1874), the 13th President (1850–1853), assumed office after President Taylor’s death. He oversaw the Compromise of 1850, a set of laws aimed at resolving sectional disputes over slavery (including the Fugitive Slave Act). Though he hoped to ease tensions, the measures only delayed the nation’s slide toward Civil War.

Interesting anecdote: The Fillmores were great lovers of books and education. Millard Fillmore and his wife Abigail established the first White House library, converting a room in the executive mansion and personally selecting many volumes to encourage learning and culture.