Graduate of Yale in 1804. Married Floride Bouneau Calhoun, his cousin, in January 1811. They had nine children. Studied law and apprenticed at the office of Henry W. De Saussure. He was admitted to the bar in 1807. He was elected to the South Carolina legislature in 1808.

Elected to the House of Representatives serving March 4, 1811, to November 3, 1817. Appointed Secretary of War serving October 8, 1817, to March 7, 1825. Elected Vice President serving March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1832. Elected to the Senate serving December 12, 1832, to March 3, 1843. Appointed Secretary of State serving March 6, 1844, to March 6, 1845. He supported slavery. Returned to the Senate and served November 26, 1845, until his death in Washington, D.C.

Calhoun appears on paper money:

$2 1860 Eastern Bank of Alabama, Eufala

$2 Bank of the State of South Carolina,

Charleston

$5 Northern Bank of Alabama, Huntsville

$5 Bank of South Carolina

$10 Bank of East Tennessee, Knoxville

$10 Northern Bank of Alabama, Huntsville

$10 1862 Manufacturers Bank, Macon, GA

$10 1860 Farmers and Mechanics Bank,

Savannah, Georgia

$20 1860 Farmers and Mechanics Bank,

Savannah, Georgia

$25 Planters Bank of Fairfield, Tennessee

$100 Issue of April 17, 1862, Confederate Note

$1000 Montgomery Issue of 1861, Confederate

Note

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