Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901)
Benjamin Harrison was born on August 20, 1833 in North Bend, Ohio. His grandfather was William Henry Harrison, he was 1841 the 9th President of the United States for just one month. Harrison studied law at the Miami University in Oxford and founded successfully his own chambers in Cincinnati.
Harrison served as a volunteer and rose up to Brigadier General during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Wives: Caroline Lavinia Scott (1832-1892), wedding on October 20, 1853; Mary Scott Lord Dimmick (1858-1948), wedding on April 6, 1896
Children: Russell Benjamin Harrison (1854-1936); Mary Scott Harrison (1858-1930); Elizabeth Harrison (1897-1955)
Profession: lawyer
Political orientation: Republican
Presidential salary: 50,000/year
Results of the presidential election 1888:
|
|
Popular Votes |
Electoral Votes |
|
Benjamin Harrison |
5,477,129 |
233 |
|
Grover Cleveland |
5,537,857 |
168 |
Vice President: Levi P. Morton
Presidency (1889-1893):
In 1890 Benjamin Harrison created with the “Sherman Antitrust Act” the foundation for the anti-trust laws of the United States and accordingly for the U.S. competition law. Due to the significant economic expansion dominant trusts, cartels, and monopolies were developed, their market power should be restricted from using the antitrust laws.
Harrison was not re-elected after re-nomination and worked as a lawyer again afterwards.
In 1899, Harrison represented the State of Venezuela, which was in a border conflict with Great Britain. Furthermore in the same year he took part in the Hague Peace Conference.
Benjamin Harrison died on March 13, 1901 of pneumonia.
Nickname: “Kid Gloves Harrison”; “Little Ben”
"The bud of victory is always in the truth." (Benjamin Harrison)