John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun
7th Vice President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832
PresidentJohn Quincy Adams (1825–1829)
Andrew Jackson (1829–1832)
Preceded byDaniel D. Tompkins
Succeeded byMartin Van Buren
United States Senator
from South Carolina
In office
November 26, 1845 – March 31, 1850
Preceded byDaniel Elliott Huger
Succeeded byFranklin H. Elmore
In office
December 29, 1832 – March 3, 1843
Preceded byRobert Y. Hayne
Succeeded byDaniel Elliott Huger
16th United States Secretary of State
In office
April 1, 1844 – March 10, 1845
PresidentJohn Tyler
James K. Polk
Preceded byAbel P. Upshur
Succeeded byJames Buchanan
10th United States Secretary of War
In office
December 8, 1817 – March 4, 1825
PresidentJames Monroe
Preceded byGeorge Graham (Acting)
William H. Crawford
Succeeded byJames Barbour
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1811 – November 3, 1817
Preceded byJoseph Calhoun
Succeeded byEldred Simkins
Personal details
Born
John Caldwell Calhoun

(1782-03-18)March 18, 1782
Abbeville, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedMarch 31, 1850(1850-03-31) (aged 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeSt. Philip's Church
Political partyDemocratic-Republican (Before 1828)
Nullifier (1828–1839)
Democratic (1839–1850)
Spouse(s)
(m. 1811)
Children10, including Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson
ParentsPatrick Calhoun
Martha Caldwell
EducationYale University
Litchfield Law School
Signature

John Caldwell Calhoun (March 18, 1782 – March 31, 1850) was an American politician who was the vice president of the United States for John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Calhoun was the vice president under two different presidents; the only other to do so was George Clinton. Calhoun's father was an Irish immigrant.

Calhoun was member of the House of Representatives and later the Senate from South Carolina. Calhoun, a slaveowner, strongly supported slavery and called it "a positive good" in a Senate speech in 1837.

Calhoun is probably best remembered for his strong support for slavery and nullification, which says any state has the right to reject a federal law if it is unconstitutional. President Jackson opposed nullification, and the disagreement started a feud between them. Calhoun was the first vice president in American history to resign from office, on December 28, 1832.[1]

From 1844 to 1845, he became Secretary of State. He then returned to the Senate and represented his state until he died.

References

  1. "Calhoun resigns vice presidency". History (U.S. TV channel). Retrieved 26 December 2011.

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