Hannibal
Hamlin, served as Vice President during the Civil War.
He was Born in Paris Hill Maine in 1809, and owes his name to his Grandfather who loved to study ancient history and named his oldest son Africanus and his twin sons Cyrus, and Hannibal. Vice President Hamlin was named for his uncle. The
Hamlin's were a prominent family and young Hannibal was able to attend Maine's Hebron Academy. After his father died he left school to run the family farm. He later studied law at Portland and was admitted to the bar in 1833. While working at the Law offices of Fessenden and De Blois. He was greatly influenced by the strong anti-slavery opinions of Mr. Fessenden.
Hamlin later became the city attorney for Hampton Maine. He was elected to the Maine legislature and served from 1836 to 1840. He was elected to the US Congress in 1843 as a Jacksonian Democrat. He angered President Polk when he proposed his own version of the Wilmot Proviso
which Polk feared would further split the North and the South. While serving in the House he met Representatives Abraham Lincoln of Illinois and Andrew Johnson of
Tennessee. His most heated debates were with the representative from Mississippi, Jefferson Davis. He was elected to the US Senate in 1848 where he opposed the compromise of 1850 fearing that it would allow the spread of slavery in to the western territories.
In 1856 he joined the new Republican party. He was persuaded to run for governor of Maine, but only if he could return to the Senate as soon as possible. Since Maine held their election early, due to bad weather, the Nations Newspapers all wrote about the Republicans in Maine, which gave a major boost to the popularity of the Republican party. Soon after in 1857 Hamlin resigned as Governor and returned to the Senate.
When the Republicans met to hold their second national convention in 1860 Hamlin was sent as a favorite son candidate from Maine. The front runner, and the candidate many expected to be the nominee, was popular US Senator William Seward of New York (future secretary of state and Alaska purchaser). Despite Seward's lead Lincoln's supporters, which included help from Maine's James G. Blaine (future Republican candidate for president in 1884), were able to secure the nomination for the Rail
Splitter, Honest Abe. Seward showed no interest in the vice presidency, and neither did Kentucky abolitionist Cassius Clay. It was decided that a New England former Democrat would be best to balance the ticket. Shuyler Colfax ( a future VP 1869-73), went to the hotel where Hannibal Hamlin was playing cards, and informed him of the Vice Presidential nomination. At first Hamlin turned it down, but was persuaded to take it when he was told it would hurt Republican chances in November if it looked like he had no confidence in a Lincoln victory.
After his election as vice president Hamlin was asked what he thought was going to happen next. Hamlin responded, "There's going to be a war, a terrible war, just as surely as the sun will rise in the morning".
Hamlin soon became frustrated with the lack of duties and
responsibilities he had as vice president, and often resented having given up his powerful seat in the Senate. His two major contributions were recommending Gideon Wells for Secretary of the Navy, and helping to persuade Lincoln to sign an emancipation proclamation.
In 1864 he shocked society by joining the Maine Coast Guard. He reported for duty as Private Hamlin. The camp commander immediately promoted him to corporal, but Hamlin insisted on reporting for drill and KP duties along with the rest of the men. However since he was the Vice President he slept in the officers quarters. Lincoln and the leaders of the Republican party decided to drop Hamlin from the ticket in 1864 and replace him with a Southern Democrat, who had remained loyal, Andrew Johnson.
Hamlin failed to regain his old Senate seat in 1864 but was later elected in 1868. He served as senator until 1881 when President Garfield made him the minister to Spain. Some of Hannibal Hamlin's other accomplishments were as Regent for the Smithsonian institute, and Dean of Regents for Waterville College, now Colby
University.
He died on July 4th 1891.
It amazes me that a man who was active in both the House and the Senate, and Vice President during the most critical time in our nations history has faded so far into the background of American History. Only a heartbeat away from replacing Lincoln, and yet I can't remember any of my history teachers ever mentioning his name.
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