Tilden, Samuel Jones (1814-1886), was the Democratic nominee in the 1876 presidential election, one of the most disputed in United States history. Despite winning more popular votes than his Republican opponent, Rutherford B. Hayes, Tilden lost by one electoral vote.
Tilden was born on Feb. 9, 1814, in New Lebanon, New York. He earned a law degree in 1841 from the University of the City of New York. In 1846, he served as a Democratic member of the New York state Assembly. In 1866, he became state party chairman. In that post, he led the attack on the “Tweed Ring.” This group of politicians, led by William M. Tweed, had stolen millions of dollars from New York City through improvement schemes.
In 1874, Tilden won election as governor of New York, running as a reformer. In the 1876 presidential election, he received a majority of the popular votes, but the Democrats and Republicans disagreed over who should receive 20 of the 369 electoral votes. An Electoral Commission created by Congress awarded the disputed electoral votes to Hayes, whom Congress then declared the winner (see Electoral Commission ). Tilden died on Aug. 4, 1886.
