Richard Mentor Johnson remains the only individual in United States history to be elected to the office of Vice President by the Senate. He achieved this unique constitutional distinction in 1837 after failing to secure a majority in the Electoral College, concluding a political career defined by his military service and shifting alliances in Washington, D.C.
Early Career and War Service
Born in 1780 near Louisville, Johnson pursued a legal career after completing his education at Transylvania University. Admitted to the bar in 1802, he balanced his law practice with business ventures. Following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1806, he joined the War Hawks, advocating for conflict with Great Britain. During the War of 1812, he served as a colonel in the Kentucky Militia, commanding mounted volunteers. He participated in the Battle of the Thames, where he gained political traction through claims that he personally killed the Shawnee leader Tecumseh.
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Johnson occupied various legislative seats throughout his life, including stints in the Kentucky House of Representatives and multiple terms in the United States Senate between 1819 and 1829. His congressional career was marked by his outspoken stance on his personal life. He lived with Julia Chinn, a mixed-race woman he regarded as his common-law wife, and acknowledged their two daughters. This domestic arrangement caused significant friction with political colleagues and constituents, contributing to his temporary exclusion from the Senate in 1828 before he successfully returned to the House the following year.
Vice Presidency and Final Years
In 1836, Johnson secured the Democratic nomination for vice president on the ticket with Martin Van Buren. His campaign famously highlighted his battlefield service against Tecumseh. Despite his election, his background created liability for the Democratic party, which declined to renominate him in 1840. After leaving federal office, he returned to state politics in Kentucky. He died in 1850 in Frankfort, having been elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives only two weeks prior to his death.
Fast facts
- Born: 1780, Louisville
- Died: 1850, Frankfort
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Vice President: 1837-1841
- Religion: Baptists
- Educated at: Transylvania University
- Buried at: Frankfort Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Richard Mentor Johnson elected by the public?
He was elected vice president by the United States Senate under the Twelfth Amendment because no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.
Did Johnson serve in the military?
Yes, he was a colonel in the Kentucky Militia and commanded a regiment during the War of 1812.
Achievements
- Worked as politician, lawyer and jurist
