The New Student's Reference Work/Wheeler, William Almon

Wheeler, William Almon, nineteenth vice-president of the United States, was born at Malone, N. Y., on June 30, 1819. He began his political career as a state senator in 1858. In 1860 he was in Congress, and again during 1866-77. The compromise which allayed the disturbed condition of politics in Louisiana in 1874 was largely his work, and he was also foremost in returning his back-pay to the national treasury when the act increasing the salary of congressmen was passed. He was elected to the vice-presidency in 1876, when Hayes was president. He died on June 4, 1887.