nominated for a second term. 1st Day of Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 5, 1856) 2nd Day of Presidential Balloting / 5th Day of Convention (June 6, 1856) Vice Presidential nomination Vice Presidential candidates Declined Eleven candidates were nominated for the vice presidency, but a number of them attempted to withdraw themselves from consideration, among them the eventual nominee, John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. Breckinridge supported fellow Kentuckian Linn Boyd for the vice presidential nomination. However, following a draft effort led by the delegation from Vermont, Breckinridge was nominated on the second ballot. As Vermont's David Allen Smalley stated, "No Democrat has a right to refuse his services when his country calls." Aftermath The Buchanan-Breckinridge ticket went on to win the 1856 presidential election, defeating John C. Fremont with William L. Dayton from the new Republican Party, and a strong third party showing from the American Party of the "Know Nothings" represented by former President Millard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donelson. See also History of the United States Democratic Party 1856 Republican National Convention 1856 Whig National Convention List of Democratic National Conventions U.S. presidential nomination convention 1856 United States presidential election References Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held in Cincinnati, June 2–6, 1856 Works cited External links Democratic Party Platform of 1856 at The American Presidency Project Franklin Pierce at History.com 1856 United States presidential election 1856 in Ohio 19th century in Cincinnati Conventions in Cincinnati Political conventions in Ohio Ohio Democratic Party Political events in Ohio Democratic National Conventions 1856 conferences June 1856 events