What was Franklin Pierce's job before he was president?

Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the United States, a Democrat serving from 1853 to 1857. During Pierce's congressional career, he first served in the House of Representatives and then became a Senator representing New Hampshire. He resigned in 1842 and then practiced law while remaining involved in the Democratic Party. Pierce then served in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1847. After the war, under President Millard Fillmore, Pierce's party controlled the state of New Hampshire, despite the Democrats losing control of many other states as a result of the election.
Pierce had not been the original Democratic candidate for the 1852 presidential election. Pierce supported Levi Woodbury, who died a year before the election was to take place. This allowed for Pierce to become the Democratic presidential candidate by 1852.