US Hamlin, Hannibal

Hannibal Hamlin
Vice President of the United States​

A native of a part of Maine that was actually part of Massachusetts at the time of his birth, Hannibal Hamlin was an attorney and politician. He spent over 50 years in public service, and he served as the 15th Vice President of the United States of America. Serving from 1861 to 1865, Hamlin also holds the distinction of being the very first Republican to hold the office of Vice President.

Born: August 27, 1809

Birthplace: Paris, Massachusetts (now Maine)

Father: Cyrus Hamlin 1769 – 1829

(Buried: Hillside Cemetery, Paris, Maine)​

Mother: Anna Livermore Hamlin 1775 – 1852

(Buried: Hillside Cemetery, Paris, Maine)​

1st​ Wife: Sarah Jane Emery Hamlin 1815 – 1855

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

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Married: 1833

2nd​ Wife: Ellen Vesta Emery Hamlin 1835 – 1925

Family Relationship: Ellen is Sarah Jane Emery Hamlin's half-sister​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

Married: 1856

Children:

George Emery Hamlin 1835 – 1844​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

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Bvt. Brig. General Charles Hamlin 1837 – 1911​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

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Brig. General Cyrus Hamlin 1839 – 1867​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

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George Emery Hamlin 1848 – 1849​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

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Frank Hamlin 1862 – 1922​

(Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine)​

Signature:

Antebellum History:

Hamlin attended the district schools and Hebron Academy in Maine​

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Farm Manager of his family's farm​

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1827 – 1830: Hamlin published the Oxford Jeffersonian newspaper in partnership with Horatio King​

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1833 – 1848: Attorney in Hampden Maine​

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1836 – 1841: Maine State Representative​

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1840: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Representative

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1843 – 1847: United States Representative from Maine​

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1847: Maine State Representative​

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1848 – 1857: United States Senator from Maine​

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1855 – 1856: Sarah's health declined so severely that for a while Hamlin considered resigning his Senate seat. Sarah Jane Hamlin died from tuberculosis in April 1856​

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1856: In September, Hamlin marries his first wife's younger half-sister, Ellen​

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1857: Governor of Maine​

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1857 – 1860: United States Senator from Maine​

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1860: Nominated by the Republican Party to serve as Vice President of the United States in the 1860 presidential election on a ticket with former Representative Abraham Lincoln​

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1860: Hamlin joined the militia unit, Company A of the Maine State Guard​

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1861: On March 4, Hamlin becomes the 15th Vice President of the United States​

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Civil War History:

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1864: In June, Lincoln and the National Union Party pick War Democrat Andrew Johnson of Tennessee to replace Hamlin as the new Vice Presidential Running Mate.​

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1864: When his Maine militia unit was called up in July, Hamlin reported to Fort McClary, despite being told that he was excused from service, because he was the Vice President. He initially took part in routine assignments, including guard duty, and later took over as the company cook. Hamlin was promoted to corporal during his service, and mustered out with the rest of his unit in mid-September.​

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1865: Hamlin's term as Vice President expires on March 4​

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Postbellum History:

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Served briefly as Collector of the Port of Boston​

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1869 - 1881: United States Senator from Maine​

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1881: Appointed as United States Ambassador to Spain by newly elected President James A. Garfield, beginning on June 30. He held this post until October 17, 1882​

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1882: Hamlin retired to his home in Bangor, Maine, today known as the Hannibal Hamlin House​

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Hamlin was elected as a Third Class Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States for contributing his outstanding service to the Union during the war​

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1891: While playing cards on Independence Day at the Tarratine Club he founded in downtown Bangor, Hamlin collapsed and fell unconscious​

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Died: July 4, 1891

Place of Death: Tarratine Club, Bangor, Maine

Cause of Death: Natural causes

Age at time of Death: 81 Years Old

Burial Place: Hamlin Family Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine

citation information The following information is provided for citations.

Article Title: ​	Biographies of the Civil War, Hannibal Hamlin
Authors: ​	★ @gentlemanrob, Pre-1860 Profile ★ Mike Kendra @CivilWarTalk, Post-1860 Profile, Layout
Website Name: ​	CivilWarTalk.com
URL: ​	https://civilwartalk.com/threads/hamlin-hannibal.178031/
Publisher: ​	CivilWarTalk, LLC
Original Published Date: ​	October 3, 2020

 

[Lubliner]

He must have had two sons serve in the Civil War, becoming Brig.-Gen.'s later? Both were of age to fight in 1861.
Lubliner.

 

[Pollaco]

In 1843 when he entered the House of Representativeshe was known as the "Carthaginian of Maine".

 

[Pollaco]

He had not ever met Lincoln until after the election.

 

[Pollaco]

From a biography that I've read about Hamlin suggests that the Emancipation Proclamation was at least partially Hamlins idea. He had been urging Lincoln to pass it for a lengthy time. He however wanted it passed immediately while Lincoln wanted it passed following a military victory. He was the first to see a draft of the document which contained most of his wording suggestions.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

From a biography that I've read about Hamlin suggests that the Emancipation Proclamation was at least partially Hamlins idea. He had been urging Lincoln to pass it for a lengthy time. He however wanted it passed immediately while Lincoln wanted it passed following a military victory. He was the first to see a draft of the document which contained most of his wording suggestions.

I was about to ask if Hamlin did anything useful or meaningful during his 4 years as Vice President.

 

[John Hartwell]

I was about to ask if Hamlin did anything useful or meaningful during his 4 years as Vice President.

The Vice Presidency was/is principally a legislative job: he serves as President of the Senate, and upholds the administration's agenda. Hamlin was chosen because he was a former Democrat, and could work to attract northern Democrats to support the war-effort. Just as Johnson was chosen as his successor to appeal to southern Unionists.

 

[TallTallMan]

I always liked him. He always gets the shaft in histories.

 

[Pollaco]

He must have had two sons serve in the Civil War, becoming Brig.-Gen.'s later? Both were of age to fight in 1861.
Lubliner.

One of them , Cyrus, did become a Brigadier during the ACW. He served on Fremont's staff and later as commander of black troops in Corps d' Afrique and United States Colored Troops.