Who was the first vice president of the United States?

John Adams was the first vice president of the United States.

Adams won 34 electoral votes in the 1788–1789 presidential election, finishing second to George Washington, who received 69. Under the original constitutional voting system, the candidate with the most electoral votes became president and the runner-up became vice president.

Adams served as vice president throughout Washington's two terms, from 1789 to 1797. His constitutional role included presiding over the Senate, and he cast tie-breaking votes when senators were evenly divided. He found the office politically limited and complained privately about its lack of influence.

Adams later became the second president, serving from 1797 to 1801. His successor as vice president was Thomas Jefferson, who had been his political rival and later defeated him in the election of 1800.