John C. Calhoun | |
---|---|
![]() | |
7th Vice President of the United States | |
In office March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832 | |
President | John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) Andrew Jackson (1829–1832) |
Preceded by | Daniel D. Tompkins |
Succeeded by | Martin Van Buren |
United States Senator from South Carolina | |
In office November 26, 1845 – March 31, 1850 | |
Preceded by | Daniel Elliott Huger |
Succeeded by | Franklin H. Elmore |
In office December 29, 1832 – March 3, 1843 | |
Preceded by | Robert Y. Hayne |
Succeeded by | Daniel Elliott Huger |
16th United States Secretary of State | |
In office April 1, 1844 – March 10, 1845 | |
President | John Tyler James K. Polk |
Preceded by | Abel P. Upshur |
Succeeded by | James Buchanan |
10th United States Secretary of War | |
In office December 8, 1817 – March 4, 1825 | |
President | James Monroe |
Preceded by | George Graham (Acting) William H. Crawford |
Succeeded by | James Barbour |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district | |
In office March 4, 1811 – November 3, 1817 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Calhoun |
Succeeded by | Eldred Simkins |
Personal details | |
Born | John Caldwell Calhoun March 18, 1782 Abbeville, South Carolina, U.S. |
Died | March 31, 1850 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 68)
Resting place | St. Philip's Church |
Political party | Democratic-Republican (Before 1828) Nullifier (1828–1839) Democratic (1839–1850) |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 10, including Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson |
Parents | Patrick Calhoun Martha Caldwell |
Education | Yale University Litchfield Law School |
Signature | ![]() |
John Caldwell Calhoun (March 18, 1782 – March 31, 1850) was the vice president of the United States for John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Calhoun was vice president under two different presidents. George Clinton is the only other vice president to serve under two presidents. Calhoun's father was an Irish immigrant.
Calhoun is probably best remembered for his strong beliefs in slavery and nullification, which said any US state had the right to reject a federal law if it was unconstitutional. President Andrew Jackson hated nullification and this disagreement started a feud between them. Calhoun was the first vice president in U.S. history to resign from office, doing so on December 28, 1832.[1] In 1844 and 1845 he was United States Secretary of State.