John Caldwell Calhoun Sr (1782 - 1850)

Born 18 Mar 1782 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 31 Mar 1850 at age 68 in Washington D.C., United States

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John Calhoun Sr is a US Vice President Join: US Presidents Project Discuss: Presidents

Preceded by 6th Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins Preceded by 15th Secretary Abel P. Upshur Preceded by 9th Secretary William H. Crawford Preceded by Robert Y. Hayne Preceded by Daniel Elliott Huger

John C. Calhoun 7th Vice President of the United States 1825—1832 16th United States Secretary of State 1844—1845 10th United States Secretary of War 1817—1825 US Senator (Class 2) from South Carolina 1832—1843 US Senator (Class 2) from South Carolina[1] 1845—1850

Succeeded by 8th Vice President Martin Van Buren Succeeded by 17th Secretary James Buchanan Succeeded by 11th Secretary James Barbour Succeeded by Daniel Elliott Huger Succeeded by Franklin H. Elmore

Biography

John Calhoun Sr is Notable.

John Caldwell Calhoun was the 7th Vice President of the United States, serving from 4 March 1825 till 28 December 1832 under 6th and 7th presidents, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

John Caldwell Calhoun was, among other things, a nationalist, a "war hawk," a supporter of slavery and of states rights.

Birth

John Caldwell Calhoun, son of Patrick Calhoun and Martha (Caldwell) Calhoun, was born 18 March 1782,^[2] in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States.^[3]

Education

His family were pioneers of South Carolina who quickly rose to prominence, and John was given the advantage of an excellent education. He attended Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated in September 1804. He studied law at the Litchfield Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut, and continued his legal education in Charleston and Abbeville, South Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in 1807.^[2]

Marriage

Well established in life, John married his cousin, Floride Bonneau Calhoun on 08 January 1811. She was born 15 February 1792 and died 25 July 1866.^[2]

Timeline of Political Highlights

^[2][3]
13 October 1807 - Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives.
15 December 1808 - Appointed aide to Gov. Drayton, given the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
1810, 1812, 1814, and 1816 - Elected to Congress as a Democratic Republican.
08 October 1817 - He left Congress to become the Secretary of War under President James Monroe.
04 March 1825 - 28 December 1832 - Elected as Vice President of the United States in 1824 with John Quincy Adams and in 1832 as the running mate of Andrew Jackson.
12 December 1832 - Senator Robert Hayne from South Carolina was elected Governor and John was elected to replace him.
04 January 1833 - Began his term as Senator. He was re-elected 1834 and 1840, and served until 04 March 1843.
1844 - Candidate for U. S. President. He withdrew 20 January 1844.
06 March 1844 - 06 March 1845 - Was appointed Secretary of State by President Tyler; served one year.
26 November 1845 - Again elected to Senate, where he served until his death.

There are many articles and books written about Vice-President John Caldwell Calhoun, that can be consulted to flesh out his political life and positions.

Death

He died in Washington, D.C. on 31 March 1850.^[2] He was buried at Saint Philips Episcopal Church Cemetery, Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA. There is also a memorial at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. It is said that his body was moved several times, from Washington to Charleston; then from one side of the cemetery to the other to protect it from vandals during the civil war and the returned after the war.^[4]

Children

1. Andrew Pickens Calhoun married (1) Miss Chappell; (2) Margaret Green.
2. Anna Maria Calhoun (Feb. 13, 1817-Sep 22, 1875) m. Thomas G. Clemson
3. Patrick Calhoun (Feb 9, 1821-June 1, 1858); not married.
4. John Caldwell Calhoun (May 17, 1823-July 31, 1855), a physician; married (1) Anzie Adams; (2) Kate Kirby Putnam.
5. Martha Cornelia Calhoun (Apr. 22, 1824-May 2, 1857.)
6. James Calhoun went to California and died there unmarried.
7. William Lowndes Calhoun (Aug 13, 1829-Sept 19, 1858) married (1) Margaret Cloud and (2) his brother's widow Mrs. Kate Putnam Calhoun.

Plantations

• Fort Hill Plantation, Pickens County, South Carolina

Legacy

• Eleven U. S. states have named counties in honor of John Caldwell Calhoun: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. The previous ten are all named Calhoun County. In addition, Caldwell County, Iowa is also named in his honor.

• Later in life, Calhoun became known as the "cast-iron man" for his rigid defense of white Southern beliefs and practices. His concept of republicanism emphasized approval of slavery and minority states' rights as particularly embodied by the South. He owned dozens of slaves in Fort Hill, South Carolina. Calhoun asserted that slavery, rather than being a "necessary evil", was a "positive good" that benefited both slaves and owners.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Died in office, vacant March 31, 1850 – April 11, 1850 when successor elected.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Salley, A.S.The Calhoun Family of South Carolina (Salley,1906)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
4. ↑ http://www.charlestonfootprints.com/charleston-blog/calhouns-moving-grave/2014/01/07/
5. ↑ Personal Life, Wikipedia

See also:

• John C. Calhoun on Wikipedia
• John Caldwell Calhoun The Calhoun Institute