Benjamin Harrison

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Benjamin Harrison
Portrait by Pach Brothers, 1896
23rd President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893
Vice PresidentLevi P. Morton
Preceded byGrover Cleveland
Succeeded byGrover Cleveland
United States Senator
from Indiana
In office
March 4, 1881 – March 4, 1887
Preceded byJoseph McDonald
Succeeded byDavid Turpie
Personal details
Born(1833-08-20)August 20, 1833
North Bend, Ohio
DiedMarch 13, 1901(1901-03-13) (aged 67)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Cause of deathInfluenza-related pneumonia
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Caroline Scott Harrison (1st wife)
Mary Scott Lord Dimmick (2nd wife)

Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the 23rd president of the United States (1889-1893). He was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison and the only grandson of a president to himself become president. His home was in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a member of the Republican party and was elected to the White House in 1888, beating the incumbent, Grover Cleveland. He was the first president of the United States to use electricity in the White House.[1] After Harrison served one full four-year term as president, Cleveland ran again. This time, he beat Harrison.

Harrison's first wife was Carrie Harrison. After she died, he married Mary Dimmick Harrison. During the American Civil War Harrison was a colonel in the Union Army (later a brevet brigadier general). He was also a successful lawyer, arguing many cases before the United States Supreme Court. he died of influenza related pneumonia at age 67 in Indianapolis Indiana

Presidency[change | change source]

Benjamin Harrison as president wanted to increase tariffs (a tax on goods that come into the country) for two reasons:

  • First, it gave more money to the U.S. government, so it could fund important things.
  • Second, because he believed in protectionism. He thought a high tariff would encourage Americans to make more of their own things instead of buying them from foreign countries.

Harrison spent the money received from the tariffs to give money to injured American Civil War veterans.

Harrison was the first president to have a billion dollar budget for the government. People criticized him for that.

He also signed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act which gave the U.S. government the power to regulate big businesses.

References[change | change source]

  1. "Benjamin Harrison". Our White House.org. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2013.

Other websites[change | change source]