Charles W. Fairbanks

Charles Warren Fairbanks was the 26th vice president of the United States. He served from 1905 to 1909 with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Fairbanks was born on May 11, 1852, in Unionville Center, Ohio. He later moved to Indianapolis. He studied at Ohio Wesleyan University and became an attorney and railroad financier.

Fairbanks was elected as a senator from Indiana in 1897. In the Senate, he advised President William McKinley and helped settle the Alaska boundary dispute. In 1904, he was chosen as Roosevelt’s running mate and became vice president.

During his time as vice president, Fairbanks sometimes disagreed with Roosevelt’s progressive ideas. He later tried to become president but was not chosen. In 1916, he was selected as a vice presidential candidate again but lost the election. Fairbanks passed away on June 4, 1918.

Early life

Charles W. Fairbanks was born in a log cabin near Unionville Center, Ohio. His parents were Mary Adelaide and Loriston Monroe Fairbanks, who made wagons. When Fairbanks was young, his family’s home helped people who were trying to escape unfair treatment.

After going to small schools and working on a farm, Fairbanks went to Ohio Wesleyan University and finished in 1872. While at school, he helped edit the newspaper with a friend named Cornelia Cole, and they married after they both graduated.

Early career

Charles W. Fairbanks started his career working for the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He reported on political events. He studied law and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he finished his legal education. In 1874, he became a lawyer and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan.

Fairbanks worked with a railroad company and later helped a famous businessman, Jay Gould. He became active in politics, supporting Benjamin Harrison for president and speaking at many events. In 1897, Fairbanks was elected to the United States Senate.

U.S. Senator

As a senator, Fairbanks helped advise the president during a war and led important committees. He also took part in discussions with leaders from Britain about issues between the two countries.

Vice presidency (1905–1909)

Fairbanks was elected vice president of the United States in 1904. He served from 1905 to 1909 with Theodore Roosevelt. He was the first vice president to serve a full term without having to make big decisions as President of the Senate. Fairbanks often had different ideas from Roosevelt and did not have a big role in the government. Roosevelt chose another person, William Howard Taft, to be the next president. After that, Fairbanks went back to working as a lawyer.

In 1905, while Fairbanks was giving a speech in Flint, Michigan, a man tried to get close to him with something hidden. People stopped the man before he could do anything, and Fairbanks continued his speech. The man was taken away by the police.

Post-vice presidency (1909–1918)

Hughes's running mate

In 1916, Fairbanks helped plan for the Republican party. He wanted to be the Republican president but lost at a meeting in June. When Charles Evans Hughes was chosen, Fairbanks was selected to run with him as vice president. In November, Hughes and Fairbanks lost the election to Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Marshall. After this, Fairbanks returned to working as a lawyer in Indianapolis, but his health began to decline.

Death and legacy

Fairbanks died at home on June 4, 1918, at the age of 66, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

He received special awards from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1901 and from Northwestern University in 1907. Several places are named after him, including the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Fairbanks School District in Union County, Ohio, Fairbanks, Minnesota, Fairbanks, Oregon, and Fairbanks Township, Michigan.

In 1966, a special sign was placed in front of Fairbanks's home in Indianapolis to honor him. In 2009, another sign was put up in Unionville Center to mark where he was born.