This is the sixth in a nine-part series looking at Ohio’s history of presidents. Some of the information was gleaned from a kit provided by the Ohio Historical Society released in 1967 titled “Portraits of Ohio Presidents.” Richland Source has entered into a collaborative agreement with the Ohio History Connection to share content across our sites. Part I, an introduction, was published on Feb. 9. Part II, on William Henry Harrison, was published on Feb. 16. Part III, on Ulysses S. Grant, was published on Feb. 23. Part IV, on Rutherford B. Hayes, was published on March 2. Part V, on James A. Garfield, was published on March 9.
Although his linage suggested American political royalty, Benjamin Harrison was born on a humble farm south of Cincinnati in North Bend, Ohio on Aug. 20, 1833.
He was the son of John Scott Harrison and grandson of William Henry Harrison.
Benjamin attended Miami University and graduated with distinction in 1852. The next year he began practicing law in Cincinnati and married Caroline Lavinia Scott. The couple had two children.
In 1854, after two years studying law, Harrison moved to Indianapolis to establish his own practice. Upon arriving in Indiana, he found the area a fertile ground for his political ambitions.
Thus he ignored his father’s advice that “none but knaves should ever enter the political arena.” Instead, Benjamin became an active participant and leader in the newly formed Republican Party.
Just after being elected Reporter of the Supreme Court, Harrison answered the call of Indiana governor Oliver P. Morton to fill the quota for Union Troops in the Civil War.
Harrison started as captain of the Indiana volunteer infantry in 1862 and quickly moved up to colonel. While serving under General William Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, Harrison’s achievements at the battles of Resaca and Peachtree Creek earned him a promotion to Brigadier General.
In later life, Harrison participated in many Civil War reunions and during his presidency was a champion of providing pensions for Grand Army of the Republic veterans.
Standing just 5-foot-6, Harrison was described as a kind man of stout principle who possessed a keen intellect and a phenomenal memory. He willingly sacrificed valuable political support rather than abandon his convictions — as in 1882, when he opposed the Chinese Exclusion Act on the ground that it would abrogate rights guaranteed to the Chinese by the Burlingame Treaty of 1868.
A deeply religious man, he was an elder in the Presbyterian church for 40 years. He was defeated in an 1876 bid for Indiana governor, but became a U.S. Senator from 1881 to 1887.
In 1888, Harrison received 100,000 fewer popular votes than Grover Cleveland, but carried the Electoral College 233 to 168.
Hallmarks of Harrison’s administration included unprecedented economic legislation, including the McKinley Tariff, which imposed historic protective trade rates, and the Sherman Antitrust Act “to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies,” the first federal act attempting to regulate trusts.
Harrison also facilitated the creation of the national forest reserves through an amendment to the Land Revision Act of 1891.
Harrison’s wife grew gravely ill and died in the final months of his presidency as he campaigned very little while attending to her. Cleveland defeated him in the 1892 presidential election 277-145 in the Electoral College.
He retired to his law practice in Indianapolis and was in great demand as a speaker. At age 62, Harrison married his dead wife’s niece, Mary Lord Dimmick, and they had one daughter.
Harrison died on March 13, 1901 in Indianapolis. He was the last Civil War general to serve as president.
