Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/594

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
558
UNITED STATES.

Vice-Presidents of the United States.

Name From State Term of Service Born Died
John Adams Massachusetts 1789-1797 1735 1826
Thomas Jefferson Virginia 1797-1801 1743 1826
Aaron Burr New York 1801-1805 1756 1836
George Clinton New York 1805-1812 1739 1812
Elbridge Gerry Massachusetts 1813-1814 1744 1814
Daniel D. Tompkins New York 1817-1825 1744 1825
John C. Calhoun South Carolina 1825-1832 1782 1850
Martin Van Buren New York 1833-1837 1782 1862
Richard M. Johnson Kentucky 1837-1841 1780 1850
John Tyler Virginia 1841-1841 1790 1862
George M. Dallas Pennsylvania 1845-1849 1792 1865
Millard Fillmore New York 1849-1850 1800 ——
William R. King Alabama 1853-1853 1786 1853
John C. Breckinridge Kentucky 1857-1861 1821 ——
Hannibal Hamlin Maine 1861-1865 1809 ——
Andrew Johnson Tennessee 1865-1865 1808 ——
Lafayette S. Foster Connecticut 1865-1869 1806 ——
Schuyler Colfax Indiana 1869 —— 1823 ——

The administrative business of the nation is conducted by seven chief officers, or heads of departments, who form what is called the 'Cabinet.' They are chosen by the president, but must be approved of by the Senate. Each of them presides over a separate department, and has to act under the immediate authority of the president. The heads of departments are:—

1. The Secretary of State and of Foreign Affairs.—Hamilton Fish, born in the city of New York, 1809; studied for the bar, and graduated at Columbia College; successively member of the State Legislature of New York, member of Congress, governor of the State of New York, and United States Senator; appointed Secretary of State, March 11, 1869.

2. Secretary of the Treasury.—George Boutwell, born in the State of Massachusetts, 1818; educated for the mercantile career; successively member of the State Legislature and Governor of Massachusetts; Commissioner of Inland Revenue, 1861-67; member of Congress since 1863. Appointed Secretary of the Treasury, March 11, 1869.

3. Secretary of War.—Major General William Belknap, born in the State of Iowa, 1831; educated at Princeton College, New Jersey; entered the army at the commencement of the civil war, and served in the campaigns of Tennessee and Georgia; Collector of revenue in Iowa 1866-69. Appointed Secretary of War, October 13, 1869.

4. Secretary of the Navy.—George Robeson, born in the State of New Jersey, 1824; studied for the bar and graduated at Princeton