The first vice president to fly in an airplane, James S. Sherman occupied the office from 1909 until his death in 1912. Born in Utica, New York, in 1855, he navigated a career defined by Republican party loyalty and committee work, earning a reputation for consensus-building that followed him from his local origins to the highest levels of American government.
Early Legal and Political Foundations
Educated at Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College, Sherman received his Bachelor of Arts in 1878. He pursued legal studies at the Utica office of Beardsley, Cookingham and Burdick, gaining admission to the bar in 1880. Alongside his private practice, he served as president of the Utica Trust & Deposit Co. and the New Hartford Canning Company. His early political engagement began with the Republican Party, leading to his election as mayor of Utica at age twenty-nine.
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Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1886, Sherman served twenty years representing New York's 23rd congressional district. He aligned with the conservative wing of the Republican Party, advocating for the gold standard. From 1895 to 1909, he chaired the Committee on Indian Affairs, and his parliamentary skill frequently led to his appointment as chairman of the Committee of the Whole. In 1900, his influence resulted in the establishment of the Sherman Indian High School in California.
The Vice Presidency and Executive Relations
Nominated at the 1908 Republican National Convention, Sherman joined William Howard Taft on the ticket to balance the president’s progressive leanings with a conservative, Eastern perspective. Once in office, Sherman maintained a firm boundary regarding his constitutional role, rejecting Taft’s request to act as a liaison to Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon. Despite initial disagreements regarding tariff policy, the pair later achieved a more harmonious working relationship until Sherman's health declined due to Bright's disease.
Final Campaign and Legacy
During the 1912 election, Sherman became the first sitting vice president since 1828 to be re-nominated. His condition worsened before the ballot, and he died at his home in Utica on October 30, 1912. Following his passing, Nicholas Murray Butler replaced him on the ticket. Sherman was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, leaving behind a tenure marked by his role as the first vice president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.
Fast facts
- Born: 1855, Utica, New York
- Died: 1912, Utica, New York
- Education: Hamilton College
- Political Party: Republican
- U.S. Representative: 1887-1891, 1893-1909
- Vice President of the United States: 1909-1912
- Burial Site: Forest Hill Cemetery
- Spouse: Carrie Babcock
Questions readers ask
Why was he called Sunny Jim?
He was known by this nickname because his genial personality helped ease the legislative processes in the House of Representatives.
Did he complete his term as vice president?
No, he died in office on October 30, 1912, less than a week before the presidential election.
Achievements
- Educated at Hamilton College
- Worked as politician and lawyer
