1848 Whig National Convention
The 1848 Whig National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held from June 7 to 9 in Philadelphia. It nominated the Whig Party's candidates for president and vice president in the 1848 election. The convention selected General Zachary Taylor of Louisiana for president and former Representative Millard Fillmore of New York for vice president.
| 1848 presidential election | |
| Nominees Taylor and Fillmore | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | June 7–9, 1848 |
| City | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Venue | Chinese Museum Building |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | Zachary Taylor of Louisiana |
| Vice presidential nominee | Millard Fillmore of New York |
| Voting | |
| Total delegates | 280 |
| Votes needed for nomination | 140 |
| Results (president) | Taylor (LA): 171 (61.07%) Scott (NY): 63 (22.5%) Clay (KY): 32 (11.43%) Webster (MA): 14 (5%) |
| Ballots | 4 |
Taylor and General Winfield Scott had both emerged as contenders for the Whig presidential nomination after serving in the Mexican–American War, while two long-time party leaders, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky and Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, also commanded support in the party. With Southern delegates united around his candidacy, Taylor took the lead on the first ballot. Clay finished a strong second to Taylor on the first ballot of the convention, but his support faded on subsequent ballots and Taylor took the nomination on the fourth ballot.
After Webster declined the vice presidential nomination, Fillmore and businessman Abbott Lawrence of Massachusetts emerged as the top choices for vice president. Fillmore clinched the nomination on the second ballot. The Whig ticket went on to win the 1848 presidential election, defeating the Democratic ticket of Lewis Cass and William O. Butler.