Thomas A. Hendricks (1819-1885) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 21st Vice President of the United States under President Grover Cleveland in 1885. Born in Ohio on September 7, 1819 and raised in Indiana, Hendricks built a long political career as a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as Governor of Indiana.

Hendricks was known for his opposition to Reconstruction policies following the Civil War and was a strong advocate for states’ rights. He ran unsuccessfully for vice president in 1876 alongside Samuel Tilden in a highly disputed election but was elected in 1884 with Cleveland. Hendricks served only eight months as vice president before dying in office on November 25, 1885, making his tenure one of the shortest in U.S. history.