"Senator Hamlin" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Hamlin (disambiguation). Hannibal Hamlin

Hamlin 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 23rd 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 Party    Republican (after 1856) Other political affiliations    Democratic (before 1856) Spouses     Sarah Emery ​ ​(m. 1833; died 1855)​ Ellen Emery ​(m. 1856)​ Children    6, including Charles, Cyrus, and Hannibal Signature    Cursive signature in ink Military service Allegiance    United States Branch/service    Maine State Guard Years of service    1864 Rank    Corporal Battles/wars    American Civil War Hannibal Hamlin (August 27, 1809 – July 4, 1891) was an American politician and diplomat who was the 15th vice president of the United States, serving from 1861 to 1865, during President Abraham Lincoln's first term. He was the first Republican vice president.

As an attorney from Maine, 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 during the American Civil War.

In the 1864 election, Hamlin was replaced as vice-presidential nominee by Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat from Tennessee who remained loyal to the union, and 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.