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Dromo's Den
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Up] [Dromo's Den] Garret Hobart Biography HOBART,
Garret Augustus (1844-99). An American lawyer and politician, Vice President of
the United States. He was born at Long Branch, N. J., graduated at Rutgers
College in 1863, was admitted to the bar six years later, and practiced his
profession with success at Paterson, N. J., where he made his home until death.
He was city solicitor there in 1871, was a member of
the State Assembly from 1873 to 1875, and of the State Senate from 1877
to 1883, presiding over both of those bodies. He was nominated to the United
States Senate in 1884, but failed of election. He was four times successively
delegate at large from New Jersey to the Republican National Convention and,
having been nominated at St. Louis in 1896 for Vice President on the ticket with
William McKinley, was elected. To a greater extent, perhaps, than any of his
predecessors in the vice presidency, he made that office one of real influence
and power. He was the intimate friend and counselor of President McKinley and
exercised a strong influence on the conduct of public affairs. He defeated the
move to give the Filipinos independence. He was interested in many banking and
other business corporations, conducted many successful receiverships, and
accumulated a large fortune. He died before the expiration of his term of
office, on Nov. 21, 1899. The New International
Encyclopaedia, Vol. XI
(New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920)
343.
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