William A. Wheeler

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William A. Wheeler
19th Vice President of the United States
In office March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
President	Rutherford Hayes
Preceded by	Henry Wilson
Succeeded by	Chester A. Arthur
Born	June 30, 1819 Malone, New York
Died	June 04, 1887 (aged 67) Malone, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary King Wheeler

William Almon Wheeler (June 30, 1819 – June 4, 1887) was a Representative from New York and the nineteenth Vice President of the United States.

Contents 1 Early life and Career 2 The 1876 Election 3 Vice Presidency 4 Retirement 5 Notes

[edit] Early life and Career

Wheeler was born in Malone, New York, and attended Franklin Academy and the University of Vermont. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, practiced law in Malone, and served as district attorney for Franklin County from 1846 to 1849. He became a member of the New York State Assembly in 1850 and 1851 and member of the state Senate from 1858 to 1860. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-seventh United States Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863). He was a delegate to the state constitutional conventions in 1867 and 1868, and was elected to the Forty-first and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877).

Despite his long career in politics, he was not very conspicuous, and few outside his home district knew who he was.

[edit] The 1876 Election

Wheeler was a delegate to the Repubican convention in 1876, which had just nominated Rutherford B. Hayes on the seventh ballot.

The convention was recessed for dinner, and as a sop to Roscoe Conkling, the party bosses announced that they would let the New York delegation pick the candidate. So some of the delegation were discussing the matter and they were stymied. They couldn't think of anyone who they would want to stick with the position. Then one of them began to giggle. "What about Wheeler?" he chuckled. Soon everyone was having a hearty laugh, including Wheeler, and the next morning he was, much to everyone's surprise, nominated by acclamation.^[1]

Governor Hayes, when he heard of what had happened, remarked: "I am ashamed to say: Who is Wheeler?"^[2]

Not having done much campaigning, Wheeler didn't participate in the firestorm that took place after the victory of the Tilden-Hendricks ticket was disputed in November of 1876.

[edit] Vice Presidency

He was inaugurated in March 1877 and served until March 1881.

Since Wheeler was a recent widower, President and Mrs. Hayes took pity on him, and the Vice President was a frequent guest at the White House's alcohol-free luncheons. Other than that, Wheeler merely presided over the Senate, which he found extremely tedious, and was little heard from otherwise.

Hayes had long announced he wouldn't run for a second term, and Wheeler wasn't even considered, even jokingly, for the 1880 nomination.

[edit] Retirement

When his term was over, he retired from public life and active business pursuits because of ill health, and died in Malone, New York. He was interred in Morningside Cemetery, Malone.

Preceded by George W. Palmer	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 16th congressional district March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863	Succeeded by Orlando Kellogg
Preceded by Calvin T. Hulburd	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873	Succeeded by Robert S. Hale
Preceded by John M. Carroll	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th congressional district March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875	Succeeded by Andrew Williams
Preceded by Henry H. Hathorn	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 19th congressional district March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877	Succeeded by Amaziah B. James
Preceded by Henry Wilson	Republican Party vice presidential candidate 1876 (won)	Succeeded by Chester A. Arthur
	Vice President of the United States March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Sol Barzaman: Madmen and Geniuses; Follet Books Chicago 1974
2. ^ Sol Barzaman: Madmen and Geniuses; Follet Books Chicago 1974

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