Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 - December 17, 1935) was an American naval officer, politician and academic best known for serving as Vice President of the United States under William McKinley and as the Nationalist candidate for President in 1908, an election he lost. Prior to the Vice Presidency, he served as Governor of New York state (January 1899-December 1900) and as Secretary of the Navy (1897-1899).