Aaron Burr Jr. (1756-1836) was an American politician, Revolutionary War hero, and adventurer. He served as the 3rd Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson.
Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey, He served with distinction in the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Burr served in the New York State Assembly from 1784-85 and State Attorney General from 1789-91. Burr was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1791 and served until 1797.
Burr ran as the vice-presidential candidate with Thomas Jefferson on the Democratic-Republican ticket in the 1794 and 1797 U.S. presidential elections (they lost both times, though Jefferson became Vice President in 1798).
In 1800, Burr was nominated for a third run after being passed over in favor of jefferson as the Republican nominee.
When the Electoral College vote tied between Jefferson and Burr, the Federalist dominated House of Representatives was forced to choose from the two Republicans. Jefferson won on the 36th ballot and became President with Burr as Vice President.
Burr did not enjoy the Vice Presidency and retired from the office in 1804. Burr ran for Governor of New York in 1804 but lost largelly because of the opposition of Alexander Hamilton, Burr later shot and killed Hamilton in a duel. In 1806, Burr was tried for treason aganist the United States, but was found not guilty. Burr spent the rest of his life practising law in New York.