Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 – August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, perhaps the most controversial American election of the 19th century. Tilden ultimately lost that election to Rutherford B. Hayes, and retired from politics. He is the only US Presidential candidate in history to lose the election despite having more than 50% of the popular vote. A political reformer, he served as governor of New York in 1875 and 1876. He never married.