William H. Seward
The Republican Party had been founded in 1854, in reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Its anti-slavery stance was attractive to Seward, but he needed the Whig structure in New York to get re-elected. In September 1855, the New York Whig and Republican parties held simultaneous conventions that quickly merged into one. Seward was the most prominent figure to join the new party, and was spoken of as a possible presidential candidate in 1856. Weed, however, did not feel that the new party was strong enough on a national level to secure the presidency, and advised Seward to wait until 1860. When Seward's name was mentioned at the 1856 Republican National Convention, a huge ovation broke out. In the 1856 presidential election, the Democratic candidate, former Pennsylvania senator James Buchanan, defeated the Republican, former California senator John C. Frémont, and the Know Nothing candidate, former president Fillmore.
Republican Party (Hungary)
The Republican Party was founded by entrepreneurs, businessmen and intellectuals on 3 August 1992, at the initiative of economist and Member of Parliament János Palotás, who formerly had been a non-partisan member of the governing Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) parliamentary group. As President of the National Association of Entrepreneurs, Palotás became a well-known public figure during the so-called "Taxi blockade" in October 1990, when laid the foundations of his popularity by decisive action, supporting the taxi drivers' demands. Because of the increasing conflicts, Palotás left the MDF caucus on 8 March 1992. Economist László Fodor, also Secretary General of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, professor of psychiatry András Veér and lawyer Péter Bárándy became members of the leadership. Three other MPs, László Czoma (Ind.), János Petrenkó (MSZP) and Mihály Mózes (SZDSZ) also joined the Republican Party.