JOURNAL ARTICLE

The last days of Daniel Webster: A detailed analysis of his cause of death.

  • Published In: Journal of Medical Biography, 2025, v. 33, n. 2. P. 156 1 of 3

  • Database: Historical Abstracts with Full Text 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Pappas, Theodore N; Swanson, Sven 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the medical history, autopsy findings, and cause of death of Daniel Webster (1782–1852), a prominent 19th-century American statesman and lawyer. Webster died from massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with alcohol-related hepatic cirrhosis, as confirmed by his autopsy, despite having sustained a significant head injury in a carriage accident six months earlier. While the head trauma caused neurological symptoms and a chronic subdural hematoma, it did not contribute to his death. The autopsy revealed cirrhosis and extensive ascites but no definitive source of gastrointestinal bleeding or explanation for his chronic diarrhea, which may have had other causes. The article concludes that Webster’s death was solely due to complications of liver disease rather than his traumatic injuries.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Medical Biography. 2025/05, Vol. 33, Issue 2, p156
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0967-7720
  • DOI:10.1177/09677720241274003
  • Accession Number:185001876
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Medical Biography is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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