Hannibal Hamlin (August 27, 1809 - July 4, 1891)

Hannibal Hamlin was born in Oxford County, Maine, on August 27, 1809. He worked on the family farm before being employed as a compositor in a printing office. He also worked as a surveyor and school teacher before studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1833. A member of the Democratic Party, Hamlin was elected to Maine's House of Representatives in 1836 and served as speaker in 1837, 1839 and 1840. Hamlin was elected to the 28th Congress in 1842 and the 29th Congress in 1844 where he served as chairman of the Committee on Elections. A member of the anti-slavery wing of the Democratic Party, Hamlin was defeated in 1846 but returned in 1848 where he served as chairman of the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on Printing. Unhappy with his party's views on slavery, after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act Hamlin joined the Republican Party. After a short period as Governor of Maine, Hamlin returned to the Senate in March 1857. In 1860 the Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate. Hamlin was selected as his running mate. Lincoln won the presidential election beating Stephen A. Douglas, John Beckenridge, and John Bell. Between election day in November 1860 and inauguration the following March 1861, seven states seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. During the American Civil War Hamlin loyally supported Abraham Lincoln. However, in 1864 leading members of the Republican Party began to suggest that Lincoln should replace Hamlin as his running mate in the presidential election. Hamlin was a Radical Republican and it was felt that Lincoln was already sure to gain the support of this political group. It was argued that what Lincoln needed was the votes of those who had previously supported the Democratic Party in the North. It was decided that Andrew Johnson, the Governor of Tennessee, would make the best candidate for Vice President. By choosing the Governor of Tennessee, Lincoln would emphasize that the Southern states status was still part of the Union. He would also gain the support of the large War Democrat faction. At a convention of the Republican Party on July 8, 1864, Johnson received 200 votes to Hamlin's 150 and became Lincoln's running mate. This upset Radical Republications as Johnson had previously made it clear that he was a supporter of slavery. Hamlin returned to the U.S. Senate in 1868 to serve two more terms before declining to run for re-election in 1880 because of a weak heart. His last duty as a public servant came in 1881, when Secretary of State James G. Blaine convinced President James Garfield to name Hamlin ambassador to Spain. Hamlin held the position for two years then retired to Bangor, Maine. On July 4, 1891, while playing cards at the Tarratine Club in downtown Bangor, Hannibal Hamlin died on the club's couch. He was 81. Hamlin was buried with honors in the Hamlin family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.