Historedia
Person

David Rice Atchison

Events
3
Episodes
7
Years
1849–1855

Every event in Historedia whose sources name David Rice Atchison, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Zachary Taylor becomes 12th president; the Atchison 'president for a day' legend

    1849

    Role: President pro tempore of the United States Senate

    1. March 4, 1849 · Washington, D.C.Refusal to Swear In on Sunday

      Taylor refused to take the oath on March 4 because it fell on a Sunday, delaying his inauguration to the next day.

    2. March 4-5, 1849 · Washington, D.C.The Atchison Legend Claim

      Associates claimed Atchison was acting president for 24 hours because neither Taylor nor Fillmore had been sworn in on March 4.

    3. March 5, 1849 · United States CapitolActual Swearing-In on March 5

      Taylor was sworn in on Monday, March 5, 1849, after the Sunday delay.

  2. First Kansas Territory legislature elected amid Border Ruffian intervention

    1855

    Role: United States Senator leading Border Ruffians

    1. March 30, 1855 · Polling places in Kansas TerritoryFirst Legislative Election

      Missourian Border Ruffians crossed into Kansas Territory to influence the March 30, 1855 election, securing pro-slavery victories.

    2. July 2, 1855 · First official capital of Kansas TerritoryLegislature Convenes at Pawnee

      The pro-slavery legislature convened at Pawnee on July 2, 1855, to pass laws supporting slavery.

  3. Wakarusa War violence in Bleeding Kansas

    1855

    Role: Proslavery representative

    1. November–December 1855 · Douglas CountyArmed Standoff in Douglas County

      An armed standoff occurred in Douglas County, Kansas, in November and December 1855, following the shooting of Charles Dow by Franklin Coleman.

    2. December 1855 · Kansas TerritoryDecember Agreement

      Representatives of the Free-Staters and proslavery forces reached an agreement in December 1855 to resolve the armed standoff.

Sources

  1. David Rice Atchison Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29
  2. United States presidential inauguration Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-10
  3. Kansas Legislature Wikipedia, revision of 2026-05-12
  4. Wakarusa War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22