U.S. presidential election, 1872

Summary

Incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant was easily elected to a second term in office despite a split within the Republican Party that resulted in a defection of many key Republicans to opponent Horace Greeley.

On November 29, 1872, after the popular vote but before the electoral college was convened, Greeley died. As a result, electors previously committed to Greeley voted for four different candidates for President, and eight different candidates for Vice President. Despite the absence of life, Greeley himself still received three electoral votes, but these votes were disallowed by Congress.

Henry Wilson, who was chosen by the Republicans to succeed Schuyler Colfax as Vice President, died on November 22, 1875.

Republican Convention

President Grant was unanimously renominated for a second term by the convention's 752 delegates. Vice President Schuyler Colfax however narrowly missed renomination, garnering 322 delegates but falling short of Henry Wilson's 400.

Liberal Republicans

An influential group of dissident Republicans split from the party to form the Liberal Republican Party, which nominated New York Tribune editor (and Democratic nominee) Horace Greeley for President and Missouri Governor Benjamin Gratz Brown for Vice President.

Democratic Convention

As the Liberal Republicans did, the Democratic Party chose the Greeley/Brown ticket. Greeley received 686 of the 724 delegate votes cast, while Brown received 713.

Election Results

See also: President of the United States, U.S. presidential election, 1872, History of the United States (1865-1918)

Other Elections