Biography:

William Hayden English was a lawyer, historian, Democratic politician, and candidate for Vice President.  He was born on August 27, 1822 in Lexington, Indiana, studied at Hanover College, and was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1840.  In 1851 he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives and served as speaker.  Two years later he became the Indiana State Representative in the US House of Representatives where he served until 1861.  After his retirement, he founded the First National Bank of Indianapolis and later became the chairman of the Indiana Democratic Central Committee.  In 1880, the Democrats nominated him as Winfield Scott Hancock’s vice presidential running-mate.  After losing the election to Republicans James A. Garfield and Chester Arthur, English served as the president of the Indiana Historical Society, published a book on the history of Indiana, and two other history books entitled Conquest of the Country Northwest of the River Ohio, 1778-1783 and Life of General George Rogers Clark.  English died from complications due to heart disease on February 7, 1896.