Aaron Burr was a private citizen.
Aaron Burr Jr. ( February 6 , 1756September 14 , 1836 ) was an American politician . He was the third Vice President of the United States ( 1801 -- 1805 ) , serving during Thomas Jefferson 's first term . Burr served as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War , after which he became a successful lawyer and politician . He was elected twice to the New York State Assembly ( 1784 -- 1785 , 1798 -- 1799 ) , was appointed New York State Attorney General ( 1789 -- 1791 ) , was chosen as a U.S. senator ( 1791 -- 1797 ) , from the State of New York , and reached the apex of his career as vice president . The highlight of Burr 's tenure as president of the Senate , one of his few official duties as vice president , was the Senate 's first impeachment trial , that of Supreme Court justice Samuel Chase .