(Wednesday, June 18, 1856, shortly after the convention reconvened at 5:00 p.m. local time) — Former Senator John C. Fremont of California was nominated President of the United States today on the second ballot at the first Republican National Convention meeting at Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia.

Fremont led Supreme Court Associate Justice John McLean of Ohio 359 to 190 on the first ballot. He defeated McLean on the second ballot 520 to 37 votes.

Delegates would nominate Senator William L. Dayton of New Jersey for vice president over former Congressman Abraham Lincoln of Illinois by a vote of 523 to 10.

The Fremont-Dayton ticket would face Democrats James Buchanan and John Breckenridge and a strong third party showing by Know Nothing/Whig nominee former President Millard Fillmore and and his running mate, Andrew J. Donelson, in the 1856 United States presidential election.