Richard Mentor Johnson - Frankfort, Ky. - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Richard M. Johnson was the fifth of eleven children born to Robert and Jemima Johnson. He was born on October 17, 1780 at the “beargrass” settlement in what is today the City of Louisville, Kentucky. Johnson served as a colonel in the Kentucky Militia and served under William Henry Harrison during the War of 1812. Johnson began his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives and went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In 1836 he was the democratic nominee for vice-president on the ticket with President Martin Van Buren. When Johnson failed to receive the required number of electoral vote he was elected Vice-President by the Senate under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution. Vice President Johnson remains the only Vice President to be elected under the 12th amendment. In 1840, Johnson failed to receive the nomination for Vice President and President Van Buren ran without a running mate. President Van Buren lost the election to William Henry Harrison and Johnson returned to Kentucky. In 1850 Johnson was again elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives. On November 19, 1850, just two weeks after taking his seat in the Kentucky House, Johnson suffered a stroke and died. Vice President William M. Johnson is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

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Description: Richard Mentor Johnson was born on October 17, 1780. His parent settled on land that was purchased from Patriots Patrick Henry and James Madison in present day Kentucky. Richard was born in the frontier settlement known as Beargrass which, is now part of the greater Louisville metropolitan area. He began his political career in the Kentucky House of Representative and during the War of 1812 he served as a colonel in the Kentucky Militia and served under William Henry Harrison and unconfirmed reports indicated that he may have personally killed the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. Johnson later served in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In 1836, Johnson was the Democratic nominee for vice-president with Martin Van Buren. Johnson, however fell short of the required electoral votes need for election when the entire Virginia Delegation abstained rather than voting for him. He was eventually elected as vice president by the Senate under the 12th amendment. Richard Johnson remains the only person elected under the 12th amendment. The democrats refused to re-nominate him for vice president in 1840 and President Van Buren campaigned for re-election without a running mate. Van Buren was defeated by William Henry Harrison and Johnson returned to Kentucky where he was once again elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1850. However, Johnson suffered a stroke and died on November 19, 1850, just two weeks after taking office. Vice President William M. Johnson is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Date of birth: 10/17/1780 Date of death: 11/19/1850 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Spring/Summer Hours: 7:30 - 8:30 Fall/Winter Hours: 8:30-5:30 Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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