Hamlin, Hannibal (1809–1891), the 15th Vice President of the United States. He served during President Abraham Lincoln's first term, 1861–65. Strongly opposed to slavery, Hamlin urged Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in the rebellious states.
Hamlin was born in Paris, Maine. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833. Hamlin was in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1843–47. He served in the U.S. Senate, 1847–61, except for six weeks in 1857 as governor of Maine. He was originally a Democrat, but in 1856 joined the Republican party. Hamlin briefly retired from public life after being Vice President, but returned to the Senate, 1869–81, where he was associated with the Radical Republicans. He was minister to Spain, 1881–82.
