Tompkins, Daniel D. (1774-1825), served as vice president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 under President James Monroe. He was governor of New York from 1807 to 1817. He favored the War of 1812 and defended New York from the British as commander of the state militia.
During the war, poor accounting methods made it difficult for Tompkins to keep track of the funds entrusted to him. For most of the rest of his life, Tompkins fought rumors that he had dishonestly used some of the funds. These false charges affected him as vice president. He became discouraged during his vice presidency, left Washington for long periods, and wasted his energies defending his character against his critics. Tompkins was born on June 21, 1774, in Fox Meadows (now Scarsdale), New York. He was associate justice of the Supreme Court of New York from 1804 to 1807. He died on June 11, 1825.
