Remembering Ben Harrison
On March 13, 1901 (110 years ago today) the 23rd President of the United States Benjamin Harrison died at his home in Indianapolis. He had picked up a bad cold that turned into influenza and pneumonia. He was 67 years old at the time of his death. Harrison is the meat in the Grover Cleveland sandwich. (No that's not some kind of risque metaphor, I just mean that he succeeded and then was succeeded by Grover Cleveland as President.) He ran against Cleveland twice, winning in 1888 and losing in 1892.
Harrison was a pedigreed man. His great grandfather (also named Benjamin Harrison) was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His grandfather was General and President William Henry Harrison and his father was Congressman John Scott Harrison of Ohio. He had been a lawyer in Indianapolis and was later elected City Attorney. He fought in the Civil War, eventually attaining the rank of Brigadier General even though he had no prior military experience. His regiment joined William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and he commanded his brigade at the Battles of Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. When Sherman's main force made its March to the Sea, Harrison's brigade was transferred and participated in the Battle of Nashville.
Harrison ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Indiana twice, but he served in the US Senate from 1881 until his election to the Presidency in 1888. Harrison defeated Democratic incumbent Grover Cleveland 233 to 168 in the electoral college. His term in office was confronted with economic issues, including the McKinley Tariff and the Sherman Antitrust Act, and for annual federal spending that reached one billion dollars for the first time. Democrats attacked the "Billion Dollar Congress", and used the issue, along with the growing unpopularity of the high tariff, to defeat the Republicans, both in the 1890 mid-term elections and in Harrison's bid for re-election in 1892. On his watch six states were admitted into the Union. Harrison was defeated by Cleveland in his bid for re-election in 1892 by a score of 277 to 145 in the electoral college.
Harrison returned to private life in Indianapolis. He later represented the Republic of Venezuela in an international case against the United Kingdom. In 1900, he traveled to Europe as part of the case and, after a brief stay, returned to Indianapolis. Harrison developed a heavy cold in February 1901. Despite treatment by steam vapor inhalation, his condition only worsened, and he died from influenza and pneumonia at his home on Wednesday, March 13, 1901, at the age of 67. Harrison is interred in Indianapolis's Crown Hill Cemetery, along with both of his wives.
Last fall I happened to be in Indianapolis and visited Harrison House. You can see the pictures I took there here. The volunteers were very friendly and even let me go behind the velvet ropes to get a closer look at some of the exhibits.
Harrison was a pedigreed man. His great grandfather (also named Benjamin Harrison) was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His grandfather was General and President William Henry Harrison and his father was Congressman John Scott Harrison of Ohio. He had been a lawyer in Indianapolis and was later elected City Attorney. He fought in the Civil War, eventually attaining the rank of Brigadier General even though he had no prior military experience. His regiment joined William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and he commanded his brigade at the Battles of Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. When Sherman's main force made its March to the Sea, Harrison's brigade was transferred and participated in the Battle of Nashville.
Harrison ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Indiana twice, but he served in the US Senate from 1881 until his election to the Presidency in 1888. Harrison defeated Democratic incumbent Grover Cleveland 233 to 168 in the electoral college. His term in office was confronted with economic issues, including the McKinley Tariff and the Sherman Antitrust Act, and for annual federal spending that reached one billion dollars for the first time. Democrats attacked the "Billion Dollar Congress", and used the issue, along with the growing unpopularity of the high tariff, to defeat the Republicans, both in the 1890 mid-term elections and in Harrison's bid for re-election in 1892. On his watch six states were admitted into the Union. Harrison was defeated by Cleveland in his bid for re-election in 1892 by a score of 277 to 145 in the electoral college.
Harrison returned to private life in Indianapolis. He later represented the Republic of Venezuela in an international case against the United Kingdom. In 1900, he traveled to Europe as part of the case and, after a brief stay, returned to Indianapolis. Harrison developed a heavy cold in February 1901. Despite treatment by steam vapor inhalation, his condition only worsened, and he died from influenza and pneumonia at his home on Wednesday, March 13, 1901, at the age of 67. Harrison is interred in Indianapolis's Crown Hill Cemetery, along with both of his wives.
Last fall I happened to be in Indianapolis and visited Harrison House. You can see the pictures I took there here. The volunteers were very friendly and even let me go behind the velvet ropes to get a closer look at some of the exhibits.