---
title: William H. Seward
author: Mathew Brady
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/22109/william-h-seward/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2026-09-04
---
# William H. Seward
_Authored by Mathew Brady_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/22109.jpg)
## Image Caption
Portrait of William H. Seward, photograph by Mathew Brady, c. 1860-1865.
William H. Seward served in the legislature of his home state and then of the federal government, soon becoming a prominent member of the nascent Republican Party and presumed frontrunner in the primary to determine who would represent the party in the US presidential election of 1860. Seward would eventually lose to [Abraham](https://www.worldhistory.org/Abraham,_the_Patriarch/) Lincoln but would join his cabinet once Lincoln took the presidency amidst a fracturing republic.
National Archives at College Park.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Brady, M. (2026, September 04). William H. Seward. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Brady, Mathew. "William H. Seward." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 04, 2026. .
### MLA
Brady, Mathew. "William H. Seward." *World History Encyclopedia*, 04 Sep 2026, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://catalog.archives.gov/id/528347?objectPage=2) by **Mathew Brady**. Submitted by [Zachary Kay](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/zacharykay/ "User Page: Zachary Kay"), published on 04 September 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.