1856 Republican National Convention

1856 Republican National Convention

1856 presidential election
Nominees Frémont and Dayton
Convention
Date(s)	June 17–19, 1856
City	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue	Musical Fund Hall
Candidates
Presidential nominee	John C. Frémont of California
Vice Presidential nominee	William L. Dayton of New Jersey
1860 ›

The 1856 Republican National Convention, also known as the first Republican National Convention, met from June 17 to June 19, 1856, at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The gathering nominated Major General and former Senator John C. Frémont of California and former Senator William Dayton of New Jersey for President and Vice President, respectively, as the fledgling party's standard-bearers the 1856 presidential election. The convention also appointed a Republican National Committee to govern the new organization.

The June 1856 Nominating Convention was preceded by an informal organizational convention held February 22–23, 1856 which elected a National Committee who set the dates of the convention and the terms for delegate participation.

On June 19, 1855, a small gathering of like-minded individuals met in Washington, D.C. where they passed a resolution noting the recent abrogation of "all compromises, real or imaginary" by the opening up of the state of Missouri and the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to the possible institution of slavery. These proclaimed themselves the "Republican Association of Washington, District of Columbia" and passed a simple four plank platform including the demand that "There should be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of crime, in any of the Territories of the United States." A number of state organizations were soon established along similar lines and the Republican Party was effectively born.