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William Wheeler Trivia Quiz

A quiz on the 19th vice-president of the United States, William Wheeler.

A multiple-choice quiz by AdmiralShark. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
AdmiralShark

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
212,122

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
210

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what state was William Wheeler born? Hint

Vermont

New York

Pennsylvania

Massachusetts

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Question 2 of 10

2. What college/university did Wheeler attend? Hint

Syracuse

City College of New York

Vermont

Harvard

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following positions did Wheeler NOT hold before being elected to the U.S. Congress? Hint

city mayor

bank cashier

railroad president

district attorney

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Question 4 of 10

4. In what year was Wheeler first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives? Hint

1860

1862

1858

none, he only served in the U.S. Senate

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Question 5 of 10

5. In what state did Wheeler arrange a compromise in 1875 to settle a violent political situation resulting from the Civil War? Hint

South Carolina

Alabama

Georgia

Louisiana

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Question 6 of 10

6. Where was the Republican National Convention held that nominated Wheeler for vice-president in 1876? Hint

Baltimore

Chicago

Philadelphia

Cincinnati

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Question 7 of 10

7. Wheeler successfully recommended Charles Devens to President Hayes for a seat in the cabinet. What cabinet office was Devens appointed to? Hint

Treasury

Attorney General

Interior

Postmaster General

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Question 8 of 10

8. Did Wheeler's wife Mary die while has was serving as vice-president?

Yes

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Question 9 of 10

9. For what occasion did Wheeler make his final public appearance in Washington? Hint

President Garfield's inaugural ball

President Garfield's state funeral

President Garfield's inaugural

President Cleveland's inaugural

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Question 10 of 10

10. In what year did Wheeler die? Hint

1893

1889

1887

1891

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what state was William Wheeler born?

Answer: New York

Wheeler was born on June 30, 1819 to Almon and Eliza Wheeler in Malone, NY, which is near Lake Saranac.

2. What college/university did Wheeler attend?

Answer: Vermont

After graduating from Franklin Academy in 1838, Wheeler attended the University of Vermont for 2 years before dropping out.

3. Which of the following positions did Wheeler NOT hold before being elected to the U.S. Congress?

Answer: city mayor

Wheeler served time as president of the Ogdensburg & Rouse Point Railroad. He was also cashier for the State Bank of Malone for 11 years and was, for 4 years, the district attorney of Franklin County, New York.

4. In what year was Wheeler first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives?

Answer: 1860

Wheeler was elected to represent New York's 17th district in 1860. He chose not to stand for re-election in 1862. He would run again for the House in 1868, where he would serve till 1877, when he became vice-president.

5. In what state did Wheeler arrange a compromise in 1875 to settle a violent political situation resulting from the Civil War?

Answer: Louisiana

Fraud and violence was common in Louisiana politics in the 1870s; 56 people were actually killed in the state before President Grant called out federal troops to restore order. Wheeler was part of a 5 man commission sent to Louisiana to find a solution. Wheeler's compromise allowed the Republicans to keep the Louisiana governorship while awarding most of the disputed seats in the Louisiana legislature to the Democrats.

6. Where was the Republican National Convention held that nominated Wheeler for vice-president in 1876?

Answer: Cincinnati

While it took Hayes nine ballots to win the presidential nomination, Wheeler was nominated on the first ballot for the vice-presidency.

7. Wheeler successfully recommended Charles Devens to President Hayes for a seat in the cabinet. What cabinet office was Devens appointed to?

Answer: Attorney General

Devens, a member of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, served as attorney general for Hayes' entire term in office.

8. Did Wheeler's wife Mary die while has was serving as vice-president?

Answer: No

Mary King Wheeler died in 1876, a year before her husband became vice-president.

9. For what occasion did Wheeler make his final public appearance in Washington?

Answer: President Garfield's inaugural ball

After attending President James Garfield's inaugural ball (March 4, 1881) Wheeler, due to the time of year, did not immediately return home to Malone, New York. Instead, he went on vacation in Tennessee. When his vacation was over, Wheeler made one more private visit to Washington to pick up some personal items and then return home to Malone.

10. In what year did Wheeler die?

Answer: 1887

Wheeler was in ill health for the remainder of his life, after serving as the 19th Vice-President (1877-1881). Among the illnesses he suffered from was intestinal troubles and vertigo. On March 8, 1887, Wheeler caught a cold and then developed a fever. For the final two months of his life, he drifted in-and-out of consciousness before dying June 4, 1887.

He is buried in Malone, New York.

Source: Author AdmiralShark

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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