Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin (August 27, 1809 – July 4, 1891) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 15th vice president of the United States from 1861 to 1865, during President Abraham Lincoln's first term. He was the first Republican vice president.
Hannibal Hamlin | |
|---|---|
Photograph c. 1860–1865 | |
| 15th Vice President of the United States | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865 | |
| President | Abraham Lincoln |
| Preceded by | John C. Breckinridge |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Johnson |
| United States Minister to Spain | |
| In office December 20, 1881 – October 17, 1882 | |
| President | Chester A. Arthur |
| Preceded by | Lucius Fairchild |
| Succeeded by | John W. Foster |
| United States Senator from Maine | |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1881 | |
| Preceded by | Lot M. Morrill |
| Succeeded by | Eugene Hale |
| In office March 4, 1857 – January 17, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Amos Nourse |
| Succeeded by | Lot M. Morrill |
| In office June 8, 1848 – January 7, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | Wyman B. S. Moor |
| Succeeded by | Amos Nourse |
| 26th Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 8, 1857 – February 25, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Wells |
| Succeeded by | Joseph H. Williams |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred Marshall |
| Succeeded by | James S. Wiley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 27, 1809 Paris, Massachusetts (now Maine), U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 1891 (aged 81) Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery (Bangor, Maine) |
| Political party | Republican (1856–1891) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1856) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 6, including Charles, Cyrus, and Hannibal |
| Signature | |
An attorney by background, Hamlin began his political career as a Democrat in the Maine House of Representatives before being elected twice to the United States House of Representatives, and then to the United States Senate. With his strong abolitionist views, he left the Democratic Party for the newly formed Republican Party in 1856. In the 1860 general election, Hamlin balanced the successful Republican ticket as a New Englander partnered with the Northwesterner Lincoln. Although not a close friend of the president, he lent loyal support to his key projects such as the Emancipation Proclamation.
In the 1864 election, Hamlin was replaced as vice-presidential nominee by Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat chosen for his appeal to Southern Unionists. After being appointed Collector of the Port of Boston, Hamlin was elected to two more terms in the Senate, and finally served as U.S. Minister to Spain before retiring in 1882.