Vice Presidents Who Became President Because Of Death

Some assumed the presidency due to the unfortunate death of the current leader while others were driven by ambition and ran for themselves.

Vice presidents who became president because of death. Roosevelt finished the term and was re elected in 1904. John tyler was the first vice president to assume the presidency due to the death of a president. William henry harrison died in 1841 making.

Theodore roosevelt vp to william mckinley became president after mckinley s death then was elected to a full term. Garfield assumed the presidency upon garfield s death. There have been 49 vice presidents of the united states since the office came into existence in 1789.

Since 1789 there have been 45 american presidents. Six others were elected president after finishing their terms. Of these 45 men fourteen of them held the role of the vice president prior to their time in office.

Originally the vice president was the person who received the second most votes for president in the electoral college however in the election of 1800 a tie in the electoral college between thomas jefferson and aaron burr led to the selection of the president by the house of representatives. Nine ascended to the presidency due to the death of the president either by assassination or illness. He finished out taylor s term in 1853 and franklin pierce succeeded him.

Nine times in the history of the republic a vice president has ascended to the office of president due to the death or resignation of the president. Fifteen vice presidents of the united states eventually became president. When william mckinley s vice president garret hobart died of a heart attack the position became available for theodore roosevelt who served during the president s second term.

Millard fillmore was elected to be zachary taylor s vice president in 1848 as the 12th vice president of the united states. Here s a list of these men. Andrew johnson vp to abraham lincoln and became president after lincoln s assassination.