(27 August, 1809 -- 4 July, 1891) Hamlin was an American lawyer and politician. Hamlin served as the Vice President of the United States on the ticket with Abraham Lincoln from 1861-1865. Born in Oxford County, Maine, Hamlin studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833. Hamlin held various local political positions and was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Congresses. Hamlin was also elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1848 and was reelected in 1850. Hamlin was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican and served from March 4th, 1857, until his resignation to become Vice President.
[Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp]