WHEELER, WILLIAM ALMON vice president of the United States from 1877 to 1881, was born at Malone, N. Y., June 3o, 1819. He studied at the University of Vermont for two years and in 1845 was admitted to the bar. First as a Whig, and then, after 1856, as a Republican, he was prominent for many years in State and national politics. He was a member of the State assembly in 1849-50, a member and presi dent pro tempore of the State Senate in 1858-59, and a member of the national House of Representatives in 1861-63, and again in 1869-1877. He was the author of the so-called "Wheeler Corn
promise," by which the difficulties between contending political factions in Louisiana were adjusted in 1875. Nominated for vice president by the Republicans in 1876 on the ticket with President Hayes, he was installed in office through the decision of the Electoral Commission. He died at Malone, June 4, 1887.
See biographical sketch in W. D. Howells, Sketch of R. B. Hayes (1876).