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Henry Wilson |
Born February 16, 1812
Eighteenth Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant
Henry Wilson (1812 - 1875) was the 18th Vice President of the United States, serving under Ulysses S. Grant from 1873 until his death in 1875. Born in Massachusetts as Hiram Ulysses Grant, Wilson was raised in poverty and worked various jobs before entering politics. He became a prominent abolitionist and a leading figure in the Republican Party. Before becoming vice president, he served in the U.S. Senate, where he advocated for civil rights and the emancipation of slaves. Wilson was also a strong supporter of Reconstruction efforts following the Civil War. He died in office, shortly after taking the vice presidency, and remains a significant figure in post-Civil War American politics.