John Caldwell Calhoun ()
Vice President of the United States
and U.S. Senator

See the Statue at the U.S. Capitol.
National Portrait Gallery
in the U.S. Senate
Calhoun and the "Famous Five "in the U.S. Senate archives

John Caldwell Calhoun was born in the Abbeville District on March 18, 1782. Throughout his life he was very politically active. He served several terms in the House and the U.S. Senate. He was Secretary of War under President Monroe and was Secretary of State under President Tyler. As Secretary of War he improved the military establishment. As Secretary of State he helped in the maneuvers that led to the annexation of Texas.

Calhoun was also Vice President under John Quincey Adams and Andrew Jackson. Calhoun was the only Vice President to ever resign from this position. He resigned because he was unable to do anything about President Jackson's stand on the Tarriff Act.

A vote of U.S. Senators in 1957 declared Calhoun one of the 5 greatest senators of all time. His influence extended around the country. There are Calhoun counties in Illinois, Michigan, and South Carolina named after him. Calhoun died in 1850 and he was buried in St. Phillips Churchyard in Charleston.