William Henry Seward was born in Florida, New York on May 16, 1801, and died in Auburn, New York on October 10, 1872. He served as a New York State Senator from 1831 to 1834, Governor of New York State from 1839 to 1842, United States Senator from 1849 to 1861, and Secretary of State of the United States from 1861 to 1869. His tenure as Secretary of State included the Alaska Purchase in 1867. He was faithful.