Date of Birth: August 27, 1809
Place of Birth: Paris, Massachusetts, U.S. (now Paris, Maine, U.S.)
Date of Death: July 4, 1891
Place of Death: Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Ethnicity: English
Hannibal Hamlin was an American attorney and politician. He served as the 15th Vice President of the United States, from March 4, 1861 to March 4, 1865. He was elected to the position in 1860. He was the first Republican Party Vice President. He was also a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine, from March 4, 1843 to March 3, 1847, a U.S. Senator from Maine, from June 8, 1848 to January 7, 1857, again from March 4, 1857 to January 17, 1861, and then from March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1881, Governor of Maine, from January 8, 1857 to February 25, 1857, and a U.S. Minister to Spain, from June 30, 1881 to October 17, 1882. He was a member of the Democratic Party until 1856, and then a Republican.
Vice President Hamlin was the son of Anna (Livermore) and Cyrus Hamlin. His great-uncle, Samuel Livermore, was a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, from 1793 to 1801, and President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, in 1796 and 1799.
Vice President Hamlin was married to Sarah Jane Emery, until her death, and then to Ellen Vesta Emery, until his death. Sarah and Ellen were half-sisters, and the daughters of Stephen Emery, who was Attorney General of Maine. He had four children with Sarah, and two with Ellen.
Vice President Hamlin was of English descent, including numerous Mayflower passengers among his ancestry, a few of whom were among his great-great-great-grandparents.
Vice President Hamlin’s patrilineal line can be traced back to Giles Hamblin, who was born, c. 1590, in Devon, England. Assertions that the Hamlin family is German, which were included among other places in a 2018 final clue on the show Jeopardy!, are not correct.
Vice President Hamlin’s paternal grandfather was Eleazer Hamlin (the son of Benjamin Hamlin and Anne Mayo). Eleazer was born in Massachusetts. Benjamin was the son of Eleazer Hamlin and Lydia Sears. Anne was the daughter of Samuel Mayo and Ruth Hopkins.
Vice President Hamlin’s paternal grandmother was Lydia Bonney (the daughter of Ichabod Bonney and Elizabeth Howland). Lydia was born in Massachusetts. Ichabod was the son of John Bonney and Elizabeth Bishop. Vice President Hamlin’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of Abraham Howland and Annie/Ann Rouse/Colson.
Vice President Hamlin’s maternal grandfather was Elijah Livermore (the son of Samuel Livermore and Hannah Brown). Elijah was born in Massachusetts. Samuel was the son of Jonathan Livermore and Rebecca Barnes. Hannah was the daughter of William Brown and Hannah Pease/Peas.
Vice President Hamlin’s maternal grandmother was named Hannah Clarke. Hannah was born in Massachusetts.
Among Vice President Hamlin’s Mayflower passenger ancestors was William Brewster (c. 1566-1644), a noted Pilgrim. Among many of William’s other descendants are actors Jordana Brewster, Paget Brewster, Chevy Chase, Taylor Lautner, Seth MacFarlane, and Brandon Routh, soccer player Clint Dempsey, Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, and Governor of Arkansas Winthrop Rockefeller.
Sources: Genealogies of Hannibal Hamlin – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Hannibal Hamlin (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com