Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1836'

(Wednesday, February 8, 1837, during the United States presidential election, 1836) — Democratic Rep. Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky became the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the Senate today, defeating Whig VP nominee Rep. Francis Granger of New York by a vote of 36 to 16 divided strictly along party lines.

Johnson had fallen one vote short of the 148-vote majority required to elect him in the election of 1836. Under the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Senate decided between the top two vote-getters and chose Johnson over Granger.

Martin Van Buren, who had won the presidency with a majority of the electoral votes, and Johnson would be sworn in for their first four-year terms on March 4, 1837.