Henry Clay (W) (1845 - 1853)
Lewis Cass (D) (1853 - 1861)
William Seward (W) (1861-1865) *
Abraham Lincoln (W) (1865 - 1873)
Ulysses S. Grant (W) (1873 - 1881)
James Garfield (W) (1881)*
Chester Arthur (W) (1881 - 1885)
History continues with Whigs replacing Republicans throughout history
In 1844, Henry Clay took the bold step of declaring his intent to not annex Texas. Many in his party were concerned about some of the close Southern states such as Tennessee and Louisiana, and rightfully so. But, this announcement did cause the newly formed Liberty party to lose its ground and the Whigs to fill in the void there. It was a nail biter, but Clay would barely win the White House.
In 1860 the Whigs took up the call for containing slavery by nominating William Seward, many skiddish members of the party began to flee, if not for the choice of Senator Abraham Lincoln as Vice President. The tensions between the North and the South just proved too much after the successful conclusion of the Mexican American War under Cass.
*Died in Office