Daniel Webster was born on January 18, 1782, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. His father, Ebenezer, helped found Salisbury, commanded a militia company during the American Revolution (1775-83), and served in the New Hampshire legislature. He was also a member of the state convention called to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Young Daniel attended village schools, then at age 14 briefly enrolled in Phillips Exeter Academy. Too poor to continue, he started teaching in a country school close to home. After receiving private tutoring, he attended Dartmouth College and graduated in 1801. He studied and practiced law in New Hampshire.

Like his father, Webster was a staunch Federalist, believing in a strong central government for the United States. A champion of New England's shipping interests, Webster disagreed with President Thomas Jefferson's Embargo of 1807, which stopped U.S. trade with Britain and France. Ongoing tensions between the United States and England led...