James S. Sherman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James S. Sherman
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| 27th Vice President of the United States | |
| In office March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912 |
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| President | William Howard Taft |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Fairbanks |
| Succeeded by | Thomas R. Marshall |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1909 |
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| Preceded by | James J. Belden |
| Succeeded by | Charles S. Millington |
| Constituency | 25th district (1893–2003) 27th district (2003–09) |
| In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 |
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| Preceded by | John T. Spriggs |
| Succeeded by | Henry Wilbur Bentley |
| Constituency | 23rd district |
| Mayor of Utica | |
| In office March 1884 – March 1885 |
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| Preceded by | John T. Spriggs |
| Succeeded by | Thomas E. Kinney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Schoolcraft Sherman
October 24, 1855 Utica, New York U.S. |
| Died | October 30, 1912 (aged 57) Utica, New York U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Carrie Babcock
(m. 1881) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Richard U. Sherman (father) |
| Education | Hamilton College, New York (BA) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname | Sunny Jim |
James Schoolcraft Sherman (born October 24, 1855 – died October 30, 1912) was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for New York from 1887 to 1891 and again from 1893 to 1909. Later, he became the 27th Vice President of the United States under President William Howard Taft. He held this important role from 1909 until his death in 1912.
Sherman was known for his friendly personality, which earned him the nickname 'Sunny Jim'. He was good at leading committees in Congress and helped make things run smoothly in the House of Representatives. He also made history as the first vice president to fly in a plane (in 1911) and the first to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.
Sadly, James Sherman was the seventh and most recent vice president to pass away while still in office.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Sherman was born in Utica, New York. His parents were Richard Updike Sherman and Mary Frances Sherman. He came from a family with a history of important lawyers and politicians. For example, he was related to Roger Sherman, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and William Tecumseh Sherman, a famous general during the Civil War.
He went to Whitestown Seminary for his early education. After that, he attended Hamilton College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1878. At college, he was known for being a great speaker and debater.
Becoming a Lawyer
After college, Sherman studied law at Hamilton for a year. He then continued his legal studies in Utica. In 1880, he passed his exams and became a lawyer, which means he was "admitted to the bar." He worked with his brother-in-law in a law firm. Besides being a lawyer, Sherman also led a trust company and a canning company.
First Steps in Politics
Sherman became active in politics as a member of the Republican Party. He quickly rose to become the head of the party in Oneida County, New York. When he was just 29 years old, he was elected mayor of Utica.
In 1881, he married Carrie Babcock and they had three sons: Sherrill B. Sherman, Richard Updyke Sherman, and Thomas Moore Sherman.
Time in Congress
In 1886, James Sherman was elected to the United States House of Representatives for New York. He served a total of 20 years in the House. This included four years, then a two-year break, and then another 16 years.
During his time in the House, Sherman was a "conservative" Republican. This meant he supported ideas like protective tariffs (taxes on imported goods to help local businesses) and the gold standard (a system where the value of money is directly linked to gold).
Leading Committees
Sherman was a skilled leader in Congress. He served as the chairman (leader) of the Committee on Indian Affairs from 1895 to 1909.
He was also often chosen to be the chairman of the "Committee of the Whole." This was an important role that helped speed up the process of passing new laws. Because of his fairness and good judgment, he was seen as the perfect person for this job. Thanks to his efforts, the Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California, was built in 1900 and named after him.
Becoming Vice President
In the 1908 election, James Sherman was chosen to be the Republican candidate for Vice President. He ran alongside William Howard Taft, who was running for President. Sherman was chosen because he was from the Eastern U.S. and was a conservative, which helped balance Taft's more "progressive" (forward-thinking) views. People said the two parts of the Republican party "flapped together" with their partnership.
Taft and Sherman won the election easily. At first, they had some disagreements, especially about how much power the Vice President should have. However, as President Taft faced challenges from some members of his own party, he and Sherman began to work together more smoothly. President Taft praised Sherman for his "charm" and ability to find "compromise," while still sticking to his beliefs.
Re-election Campaign and Passing
By 1910, President Taft had disagreements with former President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt eventually left the Republican Party and formed his own Bull Moose Party. This made it very hard for the Republicans to win the 1912 election.
Despite the challenges, Taft and Sherman ran together again. This was a rare event, as Sherman was the first sitting vice president to be nominated for re-election since John C. Calhoun in 1828.
Sadly, Sherman's health was not good during the 1912 campaign. He had been diagnosed with a kidney disease called Bright's disease in 1904. Less than a week before the election, James Sherman passed away at his home in Utica. He was 57 years old.
With Sherman's death, President Taft was left without a running mate. Another politician, Nicholas Murray Butler, was chosen to receive the electoral votes that Sherman would have gotten. In the election, Taft and Butler came in third place, winning only eight electoral votes. Woodrow Wilson and his running mate Thomas R. Marshall won the election. The vice presidency remained empty until Marshall took office on March 4, 1913.
See also
- 1908 United States presidential election
- 1912 United States presidential election
Images for kids
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James S. Sherman - photo portrait facing left
