South Carolina State House of Representatives, 1808–1809; U.S. House of Representatives, 1811-1817, when he resigned; Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President James Monroe, 1817–1825; Elected Vice-President on ticket with Andrew Jackson in 1824, served from March 4, 1825 to December 28, 1832, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate on December 12, 1832, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Robert Y. Hayne; Reelected to U.S. Senate in 1834 and 1840 and served from December 29, 1832 until his resignation, effective March 3, 1843; Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President John Tyler, 1844–1845; Again elected to the U.S. Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel E. Huger; Reelected in 1846 and served from November 26, 1845, until his death in Washington, D.C., March 31, 1850.
Born on March 18, 1782, near Calhoun Mills, Abbeville District, South Carolina.
Education: Attended common schools and private academies; Yale College, 1804; Attended Litchfield Law School in Connecticut; Read law in Charleston; Admitted to South Carolina bar in 1807.