Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison, a scion of the Virginia planter aristocracy, was born at Berkeley in 1773. He later became the 23rd President of the United States.

Harrison served as aide-de-camp to General “Mad Anthony” Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which opened most of the Ohio area to settlement.

Harrison became Governor of the Indiana Territory in 1801, serving for 12 years.

In 1811, Harrison received permission to attack the Indian confederacy led by Tecumseh and the Prophet, in an effort to defend the settlements from Indian retaliation.

Benjamin Harrison, the future U.S. senator from Indiana, U.S. Army officer, and twenty-third president of the United States, was born on August 20, 1833.

After returning to civilian life, Benjamin Harrison was nominated for President by the Whigs in 1840. He won the election with a majority in the Electoral College.

In 1854, Benjamin Harrison moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to establish his own law practice, which marked the beginning of his political ambitions.

Benjamin Harrison was inaugurated as the 23rd President of the United States. His presidency saw the introduction of the Sherman Antitrust Act and the first Pan-American Conference.

President Harrison vetoed the act to amend the act of Congress approved on March 3, 1887, which was related to bringing suits against the Government for land patents. He objected that it was too hard to determine the effects of the act on public lands and considered the bill too radical and indefinite for approval. The veto went unchallenged.

Benjamin Harrison delivered remarks to the Republican Club of Plainfield, Indiana upon receiving the Republican nomination for President in Indianapolis.

Benjamin Harrison received the Republican nomination for President and delivered remarks to the delegations from Hamilton and Howard Counties, Indiana.

On September 11, 1888, Benjamin Harrison delivered remarks to ninety-one veterans who had voted for General William Henry Harrison in 1836 or 1840 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Republican nominee Benjamin Harrison, a former Senator from Indiana, defeated incumbent Democratic President Grover Cleveland of New York in the 1888 United States presidential election.

Benjamin Harrison assumed office as the twenty-third President of the United States, known for his advocacy of protective tariffs and expansionist foreign policy.

The Harrison Cabinet meets for the first time and decides against the use of an informal "Kitchen Cabinet" and criticizes the practice of "senatorial courtesy" and the spoils system. Secretary of State James G. Blaine serves as a prominent figure in Harrison's core group, campaigning heavily for American interests in Latin America and Hawaii.

President Harrison invites Theodore Roosevelt to the White House and appoints him as Civil Service Commissioner on May 7. Roosevelt, a reform Republican from New York, heads the department until 1895.

During the Grand Army of the Republic National Encampment in Boston, the President emphasized the importance of the nation's defense and the role of the people in upholding the government.

On December 3, 1889, President Harrison delivered his first message to Congress, addressing various recommendations including civil rights, civil service reform, naval legislation, improved conditions for railroad workers, and pensions for veterans.

In 1889, President Harrison introduced the first recorded Christmas tree to the White House, delighting his grandchildren and guests. The tree was decorated with ropes of holly, 'prince's feather' ferns, and mistletoe, creating a beautiful and festive atmosphere in the family library.

President provides pensions to veterans who served 90 days or more and their families after their death, leading to a significant increase in the number of pensioners and budgetary outlays. This act is considered a precursor to the modern social welfare state.

Harrison signs into law the Sherman Silver Purchase Act which allows the Treasury to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver each month, doubling the previous purchase amount. Despite the support from farmers and leaders of new western states with silver mines, the law has little effect on the economy.

The bill signed on 09/19/1890 prohibited the use of the postal service for advertising or administering a lottery, following a call for legislation to address the widespread corruption and exploitation associated with lotteries.

The McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, signed on 10/01/1890, increased duties on imported goods and was highly controversial due to its expansion of the President's power in foreign trade matters.

Benjamin Harrison's Second Annual Message highlighted the International American Conference, defended the tariff law, and called for various legislative actions including a national bankruptcy law, development of American steamship lines, and Federal supervision of Congressional elections to address racial discrimination.

President Harrison signs a historic measure creating nine Circuit Courts of Appeals, aiming to relieve the demands on the Supreme Court, which marks a significant development in the judicial system.

President Harrison delivers a strong condemnation of the Valparaiso attack during his annual message to Congress, describing it as 'savage, brutal, unprovoked.'

Amidst the escalating tensions, there are concerns and considerations regarding the possibility of war with Chile.

The United States sends an ultimatum to Chile, escalating the conflict between the two countries.

President Harrison delivers a special message to Congress, urging lawmakers to take 'appropriate action' in response to the conflict with Chile.

Chile backs down in the conflict with the United States and agrees to pay an indemnity of $75,000, resolving the dispute.

President Benjamin Harrison decides to run for re-election despite opposition from party bosses.

President Benjamin Harrison is nominated on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, with Whitelaw Reid of New York as his running mate.

The Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, where Grover Cleveland was nominated for President for a third time, with Adlai Stevenson as his Vice-President.

Following conflict between union and non-union workers in the silver mines, resulting in the death of at least twelve nonunion workers, President Benjamin Harrison issues a proclamation commanding those involved in the 'Idaho insurrection' to disperse. These events are known as the Coeur d’Alene riots.

President Benjamin Harrison signs the 'Eight Hour Act' (27 Stat 340) restricting employees of the Federal Government, the District of Columbia, and Federal Government contractors to eight-hour days. Despite this action, Harrison is attacked by Democrats as being 'anti-labor.'

On September 3, 1892, Benjamin Harrison wrote a letter accepting the Republican Presidential nomination.

On September 12, 1892, Harrison canceled planned campaigning to attend to his wife, Caroline, who had been in declining health since Spring. They returned to the White House on 09/21/1892, and she passed away on 10/25/1892, two weeks prior to the election.

Benjamin Harrison lost the presidential election to Grover Cleveland on November 6, 1892.

President Harrison was defeated for reelection by Grover Cleveland just days after Caroline Harrison's death.

President Harrison submitted to the Senate a treaty to annex Hawaii, but it was later withdrawn by President Cleveland.

Benjamin Harrison passed away on March 13, 1901 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 67.