Everett vigorously defended American institutions against the sneers of English travellers, and had reason to congratulate himself on the success of a series of articles written to bring about a better mutual understanding between Englishmen and Americans. The success of his lectures in Cambridge, and the enthusiasm aroused by the rebellion in Greece, led him to deliver a series of popular lectures on Greek antiquities in Boston. They were the first lectures on purely literary or historical subjedts ever delivered in America. In 1824, he was chosen a member of Congress, and held a seat for ten years, supporting generally the administration of Adams, and in opposition to that of Jackson, which succeeded it. He took the floor less frequently than might perhaps have been expected from a person accustomed to public speaking. During the whole time of his service in Congress, he was on the committee of foreign affairs. Of all the most important select committees, such as those on the Indian relations of the State of Georgia, the Apportionment Bill, and the BAnk of the United Stated, Everett was a member, and wrote the report either of the majority or the minority. He led the opposition to the Indian policy of General Jackson ( the removal of the Indians, without their consent, from lands guaranteed to them by treaty). In the winter of 1835, he was nominated as governor of Massachusetts, and was chosen in the office the untiring diligence which is the characteristic of his public life.
Everett filled the office of governor for four years, and was defeated at the election in November 1839. This made him available the following spring to make a visit with his family to Europe. In 1841, while residing in Florence, he was named United States minister to England, serving his duties in London. Shortly before his return to the States, the presidency of Harvard College was vacated by the resignation of Hon. Josiah Quincy, and Everett was strongly urged by the friends and governors of the institution to accept this office which he did in the month of January 1846. He filled this office for about three years. Unfortunately, Everett’s health began to suffer, and before long became seriously impaired under the burdens and cares of the office. At the close of the year 1848, he was compelled to tender his resignation. Preparing for some scholarly and literary leisure time he was named by President Filmore, secretary of state, upon the death of his good friend Webster who he had always been a confidential adviser to. He held that post for the remaining months of Fillmore’s administration, leaving it to go into the senate as the representative of Massachusetts. Once again, Everett’s health gave way and he resigned his seat, on the orders of his physician, and retired to what was called private life.
The remaining ten years of Everett’s life most widely established his reputation and influence throughout America. As early as the 1820’s, he had established the reputation as an orator. A reputation few men in the later days have enjoyed. He was frequently invited to deliver orations on one or another publics topic of historical or other interest. His orations became careful studies of some important theme so that the collected edition of them is now one of the standard books of reference in a American’s library. He lectured to raise money for the purchase of Mt. Vernon. The eagerness to hear him was so great that, from the first, his hosts arranged, almost always, that tickets should be sold to all. As he traveled wholly at his own expense, the audiences thus contributed more than one hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of the old home of Washington at Mount Vernon, and the securing it as a shrine for American patriotism.
In the election of 1860, Everett’s name was presented as a candidate of North and South for vice president when Abraham Lincoln was elected. For four years he was the trusted adviser of every department. He delivered the last of his great orations at Gettysburg, on the consecration of the national cemetery there. At a public meeting in 1865 where he spoke to raise funds for the Southern poor in Savannah, he caught cold, which was followed by sudden illness, and by his death on January 15, 1865. Everett was never loved by the political managers; he was always enthusiastically received by assemblies of the people. He would have said himself that the most important accomplishment of his life had been for the higher education of his countrymen.