In fact, William H. Seward was ridiculed by some for ... Politicians and journalists opposed to the Alaska Purchase called it ‘Seward’s Folly’ early on in negotiations.

Reviewed Work: Autobiography of William H. Seward from 1801 to 1834. With a Memoir of His Life and Selections from His Letters from 1831 to 1846 by William H. Seward, Frederick W. Seward ...

1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.” ...