Remembering Benjamin Harrison
On March 13, 1901 (111 years ago today), Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, died at his home in Inidanapolis at the age of 67. John Quincy Adams had been the first son of a President to become President himself, and Benjamin Harrison was the first grandson of a President to hold the office. His grandfather was William Henry Harrison.
Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 21. He become prominent both as a lawyer and in local politics. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army as a Brigadier General in the XX Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. After the war he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Indiana, and was later appointed to the U.S. Senate from that state.
Harrison was elected to the presidency in 1888, defeating the incumbent Grover Cleveland. His administration is most remembered for economic legislation, 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. Harrison was an advocate for federal education funding and legislation to protect voting rights for African Americans. In his single term in office six states were admitted into the Union. Two weeks before the election of 1892, Harrison's first wife Caroline died from tuberculosis and he ceased campainging. Out of respect his opponent did likewise.
After his defeat in the election if 1892, 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. He filed an 800-page brief for them and traveled to Paris where he spent more than 25 hours arguing in court. Although he lost the case, his legal arguments won him international renown.
In 1896 Harrison remarried, to Mary Scott Lord Dimmick, the niece of his deceased wife, and 25 years his junior. Harrison's two adult children, Russell, 41 years old at the time, and Mary (Mamie), 38, did not attend the wedding because they disagreed with their father's marriage.
Harrison developed a heavy cold in February 1901. Despite treatment by steam vapor inhalation, his condition became worse and he died from influenza and pneumonia at his home on Wednesday, March 13, 1901, at the age of 67. Harrison is buried in Indianapolis's Crown Hill Cemetery, along with both of his wives.
If you ever find yourself in Indianapolis, Harrison House is a great place to visit with friendly volunteers. I posted some pictues I took from my visit there which can be found at this link.
Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 21. He become prominent both as a lawyer and in local politics. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army as a Brigadier General in the XX Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. After the war he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Indiana, and was later appointed to the U.S. Senate from that state.
Harrison was elected to the presidency in 1888, defeating the incumbent Grover Cleveland. His administration is most remembered for economic legislation, 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. Harrison was an advocate for federal education funding and legislation to protect voting rights for African Americans. In his single term in office six states were admitted into the Union. Two weeks before the election of 1892, Harrison's first wife Caroline died from tuberculosis and he ceased campainging. Out of respect his opponent did likewise.
After his defeat in the election if 1892, 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. He filed an 800-page brief for them and traveled to Paris where he spent more than 25 hours arguing in court. Although he lost the case, his legal arguments won him international renown.
In 1896 Harrison remarried, to Mary Scott Lord Dimmick, the niece of his deceased wife, and 25 years his junior. Harrison's two adult children, Russell, 41 years old at the time, and Mary (Mamie), 38, did not attend the wedding because they disagreed with their father's marriage.
Harrison developed a heavy cold in February 1901. Despite treatment by steam vapor inhalation, his condition became worse and he died from influenza and pneumonia at his home on Wednesday, March 13, 1901, at the age of 67. Harrison is buried in Indianapolis's Crown Hill Cemetery, along with both of his wives.
If you ever find yourself in Indianapolis, Harrison House is a great place to visit with friendly volunteers. I posted some pictues I took from my visit there which can be found at this link.