US vice-president and senator, born in Beargrass (now Louisville), Kentucky, USA. Raised on the frontier, he studied law and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1802. He served in the US House of Representatives (180719). He enlisted for the War of 1812 and took part in the Battle of the Thames (1813) in which he was wounded; his claim that he killed Tecumseh was never proven. He moved to the US Senate (181929) and then returned to the House (182937). Chosen by his long-time political sponsor Andrew Jackson to run for vice-president, he failed to get a majority of the electoral college votes and was elected by the Senate - the only vice-president so chosen. His term as the ninth vice-president, under Martin Van Buren (183741), was unremarkable and he retired to private life.
Richard Mentor Johnson|
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| 9th Vice President of the United States | |
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In office March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Van Buren |
| Succeeded by | John Tyler |
| President | Martin Van Buren |
| Born |
October 17, 1780 Beargrass, Kentucky |
| Died |
November 19, 1850 Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican Party |
Richard Mentor Johnson (October 17, 1780 – November 19, 1850) was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren. A resident of Scott County, Kentucky, Johnson served as the Representative and Senator from Kentucky, and the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Childhood and family
On October 17, 1780, Richard Mentor Johnson was born to parents Robert Johnson and Jemima Suggett Johnson on the Virginia Frontier at "Beargrass," Jefferson County, Kentucky, a location that is now contiguous with Louisville.
Elected office
Kentucky House of Representatives
Johnson was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1804-1806 and again in 1819.
Johnson was again elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1850, but he died in Frankfort, Kentucky soon after taking his seat.
United States House of Representatives
Johnson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Tenth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1807–March 4, 1819).
Vice-President
Johnson was selected as Martin Van Buren's Vice President by the Senate on February 8, 1837, after losing the support of some of his Presidential electors due to his relationship with Julia Chinn, a family former slave.
Johnson County, Illinois was named for Johnson in 1812, even before he claimed to have killed Tecumseh.
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