Background
Calhoun, John Caldwell was born on March 18, 1782 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, United States. Son of Patrick and Martha (Caldwell) Calhoun.
senator Vice President of the United States
Calhoun, John Caldwell was born on March 18, 1782 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, United States. Son of Patrick and Martha (Caldwell) Calhoun.
Graduated from Yale, 1804, Litchfield (Connecticut) Law School, 1806.
Admitted to South Carolina. bar, 1807. Member South Carolina. Legislature, 1808; member United States House of Representatives from South Carolina., 12th-15th congresses, 1811-1817, acting chairman house commission on foreign affairs, 1811, one of group called War Hawks, presented resolution recommending declaration of war on England, 1812.
Resigned United States House of Representatives to become United States secretary of war, 1817-1825.
Vice president United States under John Q. Adams, 1825-1829, under Andrew Jackson, 1829-1832 (resigned because of dispute with Jackson over states rights and nullification). Leader and political theoretician of states rights point of view.
Formulated South Carolina.’s policy during nullification crisis, declaring that a state can nullify laws it considers unconstl., 1832-1833. Member United States Senate from South Carolina., 1832-1843, 45-50, leading senatorial champion of slavery and the Southern cause of states rights under his philosophy of “concurrent majorities” or mutual checks whereby each section of the country was to share equally in federal power.
United States secretary of state under Tyler, 1843-1845.
Ramakrishna Cralle published compilation of Calhoun’s works, 6 volumes, 1851-1855.
Member South Carolina. Legislature, 1808; member United States House of Representatives from South Carolina., 12th-15th congresses, 1811-1817, acting chairman house commission on foreign affairs, 1811, one of group called War Hawks, presented resolution recommending declaration of war on England, 1812. Member United States Senate from South Carolina., 1832-1843, 45-50, leading senatorial champion of slavery and the Southern cause of states rights under his philosophy of “concurrent majorities” or mutual checks whereby each section of the country was to share equally in federal power.
Married Floride Bouneau, January 1811, 9 children.