Born near near Zanesville, Ohio. Graduate of Hanover (IN) College in 1841. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania. Married Eliza C. Morgan September 26, 1845. Their only child died at the age of three.

Elected to the House of Representatives and served March 4, 1851, to March 3, 1855. Elected to the Senate and served March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1869. Elected Governor of Indiana in 1872. Unsuccessful candidate for Vice President in 1876.

Hendricks was elected Vice President under Grover Cleveland in 1884. He served nine months and died in office in 1885. He died in Indianapolis.

Hendricks appears on paper money:

$10 Silver Certificates, series of 1886, 1891 and 1908.

The portrait of Hendricks on the notes appeared within a frame shaped like a tombstone. Those are known as "tombstone notes." Hendricks was a supporter of gold backed hard currency. It is ironic that he appears on the silver certificates that he opposed.

bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Limpert; NCAB 2; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H; BRN Feb 82