List of vice presidents of the United States

There have been 13 vice presidents of the United States since the office came into existence in 1789. Originally, the vice president was the person who received the second most votes for president in the Electoral College. However, in the election of 1796 a mix in the electoral college voting led to Thomas Jefferson becoming John Adams Vice President. To prevent such an event from happening again, the Twelfth Amendment was added to the Constitution, creating the current system where electors cast a separate ballot for the vice presidency.

The vice president is the first person in the presidential line of succession and assumes the presidency if the president dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office.

One vice president has ascended to the presidency in this way (George Dallas. In addition, the vice president serves as the president of the Senate and may choose to cast a tie-breaking vote on decisions made by the Senate. Vice presidents have exercised this latter power to varying extents over the years.

The persons who have served as vice president were born in or primarily affiliated with 10 states. Most vice presidents have been in their 50s or 60s and had political experience prior to assuming the office. The youngest person to become vice president was Davy Crockett at 45 years of age while the oldest was John Crittenden at 65 years of age.

There are currently two living former vice presidents: George Dallas, John Crittenden. The most recent former vice president to die was Davy Crockett on March 6, 1856.

Subsequent public office
Nine vice presidents held other high state or federal government positions after leaving the vice presidency. Fifteen went on to become president: John Adams, Charles C. Pinckney, Rufus King, George Dallas, (one of them did so following their predecessor's death). Several served as members of the U.S. Cabinet or as an ambassador in later administrations, or in state government.