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William Learned Marcy (December 12, 1786 – July 4, 1857) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as U.S. Senator, Governor of New York, U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State. In the latter office, he negotiated the Gadsden Purchase, the last major acquisition of land in the contiguous United States .
William L. Marcy was a U.S. politician, governor, and Cabinet member, remembered primarily for his remark: “To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy.” From 1823 to 1829 Marcy was comptroller of New York state and a leading member of the “Albany Regency,” a group of powerful Democrats.
William L. Marcy (1845–1849) William Learned Marcy was born in 1786 in Worcester County, Massachusetts. He graduated from Brown University in 1808, studied the law, was admitted to the New York state bar, and opened a law practice in Troy, New York.
William Learned Marcy was appointed Secretary of State by President Franklin Pierce on March 7, 1853, and entered into duty the following day. Marcy served until March 6, 1857.
William L. Marcy papers, Summary. Correspondence, commonplace book, diary (1831-1857), draft of an autobiography, drafts of diplomatic dispatches, drafts in Marcy's handwriting of presidential messages to Congress (1854-1856), and other papers relating to Marcy which were collected and compiled by Henry Barrett Learned.
William L. Marcy. During the War of 1812, William L. Marcy (1786– 1857) served as a militia lieutenant and later as Adjutant General of New York. As governor, Marcy created the State Geological Survey, the forerunner of the NYS Museum.
The papers of William L. Marcy, U.S. secretary of war and secretary of state, governor of New York, and lawyer, were received by the Library of Congress from Edith Marcy Sperry and other members of the Marcy family from 1915 to 1949
