How did Franklin Pierce's sons die?

Answer 1

His first son, Franklin Pierce Jr , died as a 3-day old baby. Franklin's second son, Frank Pierce, died of typhus at age 4.

The third son, Benjamin, died at age 11, in a tragic train accident not long before his father became President, January 6.1853. The family on a train pulling out from the station at Andover, NH, when the car they were in developed a bad wheel making it drag and become uncoupled from the traiin. It rolled down an embankment and crashed . Benjy was sitting on a bench behind his parents and was hit by flying debris which cut off the back of his head, killing him instantly. Nobody else was seriously hurt.

Answer 2

Franklin and Jane Pierce had three sons. All three died as children.

• Franklin Pierce, Jr. (February 2, 1836 - February 5, 1836), cause of death unknown.
• Frank Robert Pierce (August 27, 1839 - November 14, 1843), died from typhus fever.
• Benjamin "Bennie" Pierce (April 13, 1841 - January 6, 1853), died in a tragic train accident in front of his parents, just weeks before his father was inaugurated. The Pierces were headed back home from spending the holidays at Andover with Jane's sister Mary and family when soon after the train left the station, the car they were in became uncoupled from the train. It rolled down an embankment and crashed. Bennie was the only one killed. Others were injured.