A portrait of Hannibal Hamlin in 1860, the year he was elected Abraham Lincoln's vice president.

Hamlin (1809-1891) was born and raised in Paris Hill, then moved to Hampden where he practiced law. He served in the Maine House of Representatives and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1843-47.

Hamlin was a U.S. Senator from Maine from 1848-1861 and 1869-81. He was Governor of Maine in 1857.

After serving as Vice President of the United States, 1861-65, he was the U.S. Minister to Spain, 1881-82.