Garret A. Hobart

Garret A. Hobart, in full Garret Augustus Hobart, (born June 3, 1844, Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.—died November 21, 1899, Paterson, New Jersey), 24th vice president of the United States (1897–99) in the Republican administration of Pres. William McKinley.

Hobart was the son of Addison Willard Hobart, a schoolteacher, and Sophia Vandeveer. Admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1866, Hobart began practicing law in Paterson and soon won a wide reputation in business and legal circles. His political career began with service in the state assembly (1873–74). Later he served in the state senate (1877–82) and was its president for two years. He also served as chairman of the state Republican committee (1880–91) and became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1884.

McKinley was nominated for president in 1896 on a platform supporting the gold standard and a high tariff. After Thomas Reed rejected nomination as vice president, Hobart was deemed a natural choice for second place on the ticket; he came from a densely populated state and was an avid supporter of the gold standard. Unlike many 19th-century vice presidents, while in office he enjoyed an unusually close relationship with the president and was often consulted on major policy issues. His most important act as vice president took place in 1899 at the close of the Spanish-American War, when he cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate against an amendment to the treaty with Spain (the Treaty of Paris) that would have promised future independence for the Philippine Islands.