The New Student's Reference Work/Hamlin, Hannibal

Ham′lin, Hannibal, an American statesman, was born at Paris, Me., Aug. 27, 1809. He was a lawyer of prominence, was speaker of the state legislature in 1837-40, member of congress in 1842-44 and United States senator during 1848-57. Though previously a Democrat, he left his party because he was opposed to the extension of slavery, and was elected governor of Maine by the Republicans in 1857. The same year he resigned, and returned to the senate. In 1860 he was elected vice-president of the United States, serving under Lincoln from 1861 to 1865. He was again a member of the senate during 1869-81, and was minister to Spain in 1881-82. He died at Bangor, Maine, July 4, 1891.