Monroe defeats King in presidential election landslide 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1816)


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1816'

(Wednesday, December 4, 1816, during the United States presidential election, 1816) — Democratic-Republican Secretary of State James Monroe of Virginia was elected President of the United States today over Federalist Senator Rufus King of New York.

Monroe and his running mate, Governor Daniel D. Tompkins of New York, defeated King and his running mate, U.S. Senator John E. Howard of Maryland, 68.2%-30.9% in the national popular vote, resulting in a 183-34 victory in the Electoral College.

Monroe and Tompkins would be sworn in for their first four-year terms on March 4, 1817.