Whig’s Defeat seems to be a curious name for a quilt block. The name “Whig” dates to revolutionary war times when anyone with radical ideas earned that title.

The Whig party attracted some notable politicians and had two elected U.S. presidents, and two vice-presidents who came to the office of president through the back door. William Henry Harrison, our beloved 9th president, died in 1841 after giving the longest-ever inaugural speech in the rain. He caught pneumonia and died, and John Tyler replaced him as president from 1841-1845.

The only other elected Whig president was Zachary Taylor who served from 1849-1850. Former vice-president, Millard Fillmore, served as president from 1850-1853. By 1856, the Whig Party was essentially defunct.

The “Whig’s Defeat” block is one that I always assumed was both pieced and appliquéd, as was stated in Rose Wilder Lane’s book. Recently, it has come to my attention that in the southern states of the U.S., the quilt block was entirely pieced, a way of working that makes no sense to me!

When I made this block a couple of years ago, I thought it to be somewhat difficult, but I liked the finished product which I have now incorporated into a wall quilt.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Patricia Cummings

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