John C. Calhoun
7thVice President of the United States In office –President John Quincy Adams (1825–1829)Andrew Jackson (1829–1832)Preceded by Daniel D. Tompkins Succeeded by Martin Van Buren United States Senator South Carolina In office –Preceded by Daniel Elliott Huger Succeeded by Franklin H. Elmore In office –Preceded by Robert Y. Hayne Succeeded by Daniel Elliott Huger 16th United States Secretary of State In office –President John Tyler James K. Polk Preceded by Abel P. Upshur Succeeded by James Buchanan 10thUnited States Secretary of War In office –President James Monroe Preceded by George Graham (Acting) William H. Crawford Succeeded by James Barbour Member of theU.S. South Carolina 's6th district In office –Preceded by Joseph Calhoun Succeeded by Eldred Simkins Personal details Born John Caldwell Calhoun
(1782-03-18 ) March 18, 1782Abbeville, South Carolina , U.S.Died March 31, 1850(1850-03-31) (aged 68)Washington, D.C. , U.S. Resting place St. Philip's Church Political party Democratic-Republican (Before 1828)Nullifier (1828–1839)Democratic (1839–1850)Spouse(s) Children 10, includingAnna Maria Calhoun Clemson Parents Patrick Calhoun Education Yale University Litchfield Law School Signature
John Caldwell Calhoun (March 18, 1782 – March 31, 1850) was anAmerican politician who was thevice president of the United States forJohn Quincy Adams andAndrew Jackson . Calhoun was the vice president under two differentpresidents ; the only other to do so wasGeorge Clinton . Calhoun's father was anIrish immigrant .
Calhoun was member of theHouse of Representatives and later theSenate fromSouth Carolina . Calhoun, aslaveowner , 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 andnullification , which says anystate has the right to reject a federal law if it isunconstitutional . President Jackson opposed nullification, and the disagreement started afeud between them. Calhoun was the first vice president in Americanhistory to resign from office, on December 28, 1832.[ 1]
From 1844 to 1845, he becameSecretary of State . He then returned to the Senate and represented his state until he died.
