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Vice President
Death in Office

GEORGE CLINTON [James Madison]
July 26, 1739 - April 20, 1812
After suffering a severe heart attack, Mr. Clinton became the first VP to die in office.
He was the first vice president to serve in two different administrations; the second term of Thomas Jefferson and the first term of James Madison.
Clinton died in Madison's first term. He is no relation to President William Clinton. Clinton Biography
ELBRIDGE GERRY [James Madison]
July 17, 1744 - November 23, 1814
Mr. Gerry ran in the second term of James Madison, after his first VP George Clinton died in office. Gerry would suffer the same fate as his predecessor just one year after taking office. He once voted against the creation of the vice presidency, stating it was a useless and unnecessary office. James Madison was the only president to have both vice presidents die during his term. Gerry Biography
WILLIAM KING [Franklin Pierce]
April 7, 1786 - April 18, 1853
Mr. King was in Cuba recovering from tuberculosis when he learned of his nomination as vice president for Franklin Pierce. He remained in Cuba during the election, and after winning, was administered the oath of office there. It would be the only time an oath for vice president, or president for that matter, was administered outside the United States. King returned to Washington to begin his term, but suffered a relapse in early April 1853, and died before taking office. King Biography
HENRY WILSON [Ulysses Grant]
February 16, 1812 - November 22, 1875
Mr. Wilson was chosen to replace the controversial Schuyler Colfax in the second term of Ulysses Grant. He once owned a shoe factory and was concerned with workers rights. In Congress he proposing a bill to establish a standard workday for government employees. After suffering two strokes, he died two years into his term. Wilson Biography
THOMAS HENDRICKS [Grover Cleveland]
September 7, 1819 - November 25, 1885
Against the wishes of Grover Cleveland, Hendricks was nominated as his vice presidential running mate in 1884. He served less than a year and died peacefully at his home in Indiana in November of 1885. Hendricks Biography
GARRETT HOBART [William McKinley]
June 3, 1844 - November 21, 1899
Mr. Hobart served in the first term of William McKinley. Hobart was once offered the vice presidential spot under James Garfield and would have become president upon Garfield's assassination. Ironically, had he had lived and stayed on the ticket for a second term, he would have become president after the assassination of McKinley in 1901. Hobart Biography
JAMES SHERMAN [Howard Taft]
October 24, 1855 - October 30, 1912
James Sherman was re-nominated for a second term with President Howard Taft in the election of 1912. Sherman died unexpectedly however on October 30, just six days before the general election. Although the Republican ticket of Taft-Sherman lost the election, the deceased vice president managed to acquire almost 3.5 million votes in the election. Sherman Biography