Daniel D. Tompkins

Politician, lawyer

• Born: June 21, 1774
• Birthplace: Westchester County, New York
• Died: June 11, 1825
• Place of death: Castleton, New York

Significance: Daniel D. Tompkins was an American politician and lawyer. He served as vice president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 under President James Monroe. Prior to this, Tompkins served as governor of New York. Tompkins flourished as governor but also incurred large debts from personally financing many efforts related to the War of 1812 (1812–1815). These debts eventually caught up with him after the war ended, and he spent much of his later life seeking reimbursements for his contributions. He died in June 1825 at the age of fifty.

Background

Daniel D. Tompkins was born on June 21, 1774, in Westchester County, New York. He was one of eleven children born to Jonathan Griffin Tompkins and Sarah Ann Hyatt Tompkins. Originally poor tenant farmers, the Tompkins's wealth grew over time, and they attained middle-class status shortly before Daniel was born. The family bought a farm near Scarsdale, New York, and Tompkins' father became a member of several local resistance committees during the American Revolution (1775–1783). The elder Tompkins served as an administrative assistant in the county militia. Following the end of the revolution, his father held the position of town supervisor for several years and served in the state legislature. Tompkins' father was eager to provide his young son with a well-rounded education, something he was deprived while growing up.

Tompkins attended a New York City grammar school and then the Academy of North Salem. He enrolled at Columbia University in 1792. Tompkins proved to be a gifted student and writer. He graduated first in his class in 1795 and set his sights on a career in politics. First, Tompkins studied law and was admitted to the New York bar in 1797. His political career began in 1800, when he took a job working for his father-in-law, a wealthy and influential Republican merchant. Tompkins canvassed for various Republican candidates within his father-in-law's precinct. He proved a worthy political strategist during these early years, and his personable nature earned him many fans among New York voters

In 1801, Tompkins served as a New York City delegate at the state constitutional convention Two years later, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He was then elected to a seat in the US House of Representatives, but Tompkins resigned to accept a position as an associate justice of the New York Supreme Court before taking office. His career as a jurist earned Tompkins many influential friends. His friends gave him their support when he ran for governor of New York in 1807, winning him the election. He was reelected to the post in 1810, 1813, and 1816. His tenure involved dealing with the War of 1812. Tompkins was a huge supporter of the war effort. He spent a great deal of his own money reinforcing local militias and endorsing bank loans to build up state defenses. When President James Madison offered Tompkins the position of US secretary of state in 1814, he was forced to decline the offer because the low salary and his financial situation rendered him incapable of relocating his family to Washington, DC, without incurring additional debt.

Overview

Tompkins served as governor of New York for a full decade, building a reputation as a capable and energetic leader. His gubernatorial career made him a popular politician in New York. He was reelected to his fourth term in 1816. Around the same time, New York's Republican legislators began endorsing Tompkins as a possible presidential candidate. His popular reputation did not extend outside New York, however, and few knew of his feats outside the state. For this reason, Republicans did not believe he was a suitable candidate. The party instead chose James Monroe and nominated Tompkins as his vice president. The pair's ticket was helped by the end of the war, which saw an American victory. The triumph turned many against the anti-war Federalist Party, America's first political party, while bolstering the Republican Party's influence. Monroe and Tompkins easily beat their Federalist opponents.

Tompkins left his position as governor to take the oath of office in March 1817. Health issues plagued his first term. A fall from his horse in 1814 had left him in poor health for several years after. At one point, he was confined to his bed for several weeks and unable to perform any vice presidential duties. His financial situation also impeded his ability to carry out his duties. He had failed to document his expenditures properly during the war, and he was unable to recuperate much of his money for an extended time. His financial issues kept him away from Washington for long periods, and he neglected his duties as the Senate's presiding officer on many occasions. Tompkins had also begun drinking heavily.

Tompkins was described as an inept Senate president, most evident in his failure to maintain order during the debates surrounding the Missouri Compromise, which designated Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state. The vice president left Washington in the middle of these debates, which reflected poorly on his reputation. Despite his shortcomings, he was reelected as vice president in 1820. The beginning of his second term proved no better than his first. His relationship with President Monroe became strained after several disagreements. His alcoholism had also worsened, and his health was deteriorating. Tompkins' financial situation was finally resolved in 1822, allowing him to return to the Senate. Despite this, he remained impoverished throughout the remainder of his term due to unresolvable business affairs. Sickly and broke, he retired from politics at the end of his second term. He died shortly thereafter on June 11, 1825.

Impact

Despite his likeable personality and well-intentioned politics, Tompkins' political career was plagued by health and financial troubles. He selflessly financed many wartime operations during the War of 1812, but his lack of financial accountability proved to be his undoing later in life. Although his vice presidency was marred by these issues, he was the only nineteenth-century vice president to be elected to two terms.

Personal Life

Tompkins married Hannah Minthorne in 1797. The pair had eight children together.

Bibliography

"Daniel D. Tompkins (1817–1825)." Miller Center, millercenter.org/president/monroe/essays/tompkins-1817-vicepresident. Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.

"Daniel D. Tompkins, 6th Vice President (1817–1825)." United States Senate, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP‗Daniel‗Tompkins.htm. Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.

"Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice President: Biography & Facts." Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/daniel-d-tompkins-vice-president-biography-facts.html. Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.

"Governor Daniel D. Tompkins." National Governors Association, www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page‗new‗york/col2-content/main-content-list/title‗tompkins‗daniel.default.html. Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.

"Tompkins, Daniel D., (1774–1825)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=t000306. Accessed 29 Jan. 2018.