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* See [[Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]], the signer of the Declaration of Independence.

* See [[Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]], the signer of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1852 Harrison was graduated from Miami University in Ohio, and a year later he married Caroline Lavinia Scott, by whom he had two children, Russell and Mary. After reading law in Cincinnati, Harrison moved in 1854 to Indianapolis. There, his rise was slow. In 1860 he was elected reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court.

In 1852 Harrison was graduated from Miami University in Ohio, and a year later he married Caroline Lavinia Scott, by whom he had two children, Russell and Mary. After reading law in Cincinnati, Harrison moved in 1854 to Indianapolis. There, his rise was slow. In 1860 he was elected reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Church affairs and politics always interested Harrison. He was a devout member of the [[Presbyterian]] Church and for 40 years served as an elder. He belonged to the pietistic wing that gave heavy support to the Republican party, and to prohibition Harrison himself did not support prohibitiom.

Church affairs and politics always interested Harrison. He was a devout member of the [[Presbyterian]] Church and for 40 years served as an elder. He belonged to the pietistic wing that gave heavy support to the Republican party, and to prohibition Harrison himself did not support prohibition.

 

==Civil War==

==Civil War==

In 1854, when the struggle over slavery was at white heat, he joined the newly organized Republican Party. For the next 40 years he loyally supported his party in every campaign and became one of its best speakers.  Early in the Civil War Harrison helped to raise the 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment and became its colonel. After two years of prosaic guard duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, his regiment was attached to General [[William T. Sherman]]'s army and participated in the Atlanta campaign in 1864. During much of the time Harrison was in command of his brigade and at the close of the war was brevetted a brigadier general and cited for gallantry. Thereafter he was known as General Harrison. In 1865 Harrison returned to the practice of law and was immediately recognized as one of the leading lawyers in Indiana. In 1881 he was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. His income enabled him to build a spacious home in Indianapolis.

In 1854, when the struggle over slavery was at white heat, he joined the newly organized Republican Party. For the next 40 years he loyally supported his party in every campaign and became one of its best speakers.  Early in the Civil War Harrison helped to raise the 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment and became its colonel. After two years of prosaic guard duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, his regiment was attached to General [[William T. Sherman]]'s army and participated in the Atlanta campaign in 1864. During much of the time Harrison was in command of his brigade and at the close of the war was brevetted a brigadier general and cited for gallantry. Thereafter he was known as General Harrison. In 1865 Harrison returned to the practice of law and was immediately recognized as one of the leading lawyers in Indiana. In 1881 he was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. His income enabled him to build a spacious home in Indianapolis.

[[Image:TINMAN1890.jpg|thumb|300px|1890 ''Puck'' cartoon ridicules President Harrison (who called for a tariff on tin), as a little Tin Man, while Secretary of State Blaine is a larger figure clad in steel armor.]]

[[Image:TINMAN1890.jpg|thumb|300px|1890 ''Puck'' cartoon ridicules President Harrison (who called for a tariff on tin), as a little Tin Man, while Secretary of State Blaine is a larger figure clad in steel armor.]]

===Strong foreign policy===

===Strong foreign policy===

Harrison appreciated the new forces which were inevitably sweeping the United States onward into playing a more important part in world affairs. He took great pride in the new navy and the increase of the merchant marine, and watched for opportunities to acquire naval bases. American claims in Samoa were pushed with vigor; annexation of Hawaii was attempted but postponed by Democratic opposition; the purchase of the Danish West Indies was quietly considered, as was the acquisition of the Môle St. Nicolas in Haiti. In the bitter controversy with Chile, during which war was narrowly averted, Harrison insisted on respect for the uniform of the United States. The increasing importance of the United States in world affairs was reflected in the act of Congress in 1893 which raised the rank of the most important diplomatic representatives abroad from minister plenipotentiary to ambassador.

Harrison appreciated the new forces which were inevitably sweeping the United States onward into playing a more important part in world affairs. He took great pride in the new navy and the increase of the merchant marine, and watched for opportunities to acquire naval bases. American claims in Samoa were pushed with vigor; annexation of Hawaii was attempted but postponed by Democratic opposition; the purchase of the Danish West Indies was quietly considered, as was the acquisition of the Môle St. Nicolas in Haiti. In the bitter controversy with Chile, during which war was narrowly averted, Harrison insisted on respect for the uniform of the United States. The increasing importance of the United States in world affairs was reflected in the act of Congress in 1893 which raised the rank of the most important diplomatic representatives abroad from minister plenipotentiary to ambassador.

===Domestic policy===

===Domestic policy===

During his administration the [[McKinley Tariff Act]] with its important reciprocity section, the [[Sherman Silver Purchase Act]], the [[Antitrust|Sherman Antitrust Act]], and the Dependent Pension Act for Civil War veterans were passed. Idaho and Wyoming were admitted as states and the Oklahoma Territory was opened to settlement.  The civil rights bill (attacked as a "Force Bill" by Democrats) failed when Republicans from western silverstates traded their votes to get the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

During his administration the [[McKinley Tariff Act]] with its important reciprocity section, the [[Sherman Silver Purchase Act]], the [[Antitrust|Sherman Antitrust Act]], and the Dependent Pension Act for Civil War veterans were passed. Idaho and Wyoming were admitted as states and the Oklahoma Territory was opened to settlement.  The civil rights bill (attacked as a "Force Bill" by Democrats) failed when Republicans from western silverstates traded their votes to get the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

The election of 1890 was a landslide for the Democrats, who campaigned against the high-spending "billion dollar Congress," the high McKinley tariff, and the Republican attacks on foreign language schools in Wisconsin and Illinois.  Despite Harrison's icy personality, he won renomination in 1892 by packing the GOP convention with office holders.  He was defeated by a landslide by Cleveland in a rematch in 1892.

The election of 1890 was a landslide for the Democrats, who campaigned against the high-spending "billion dollar Congress," the high McKinley tariff, and the Republican attacks on foreign language schools in Wisconsin and Illinois.  Despite Harrison's icy personality, he won renomination in 1892 by packing the GOP convention with office holders.  He was defeated by a landslide by Cleveland in a rematch in 1892.

<blockquote>

<blockquote>In 1890, an act of Congress creates [[Yosemite National Park]], home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir (1838-1914) and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Harrison and paved the way for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers, along with countless "Don't Feed the Bears" signs. [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history]</blockquote>

In 1890, an act of Congress creates [[Yosemite National Park]], home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir (1838-1914) and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Harrison and paved the way for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers, along with countless "Don't Feed the Bears" signs. [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history]

</blockquote>

 

* "God forbid that the day should ever come when, in the American mind, the thought of man as a "consumer" shall submerge the old American thought of man as a creature of God, endowed with "[[Unalienable rights]]"."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ta1YAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA221 Views of an Ex-president], by Benjamin Harrison</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Calhoun, Charles W. ''Benjamin Harrison'' (2005), short biography by leading scholar

* Calhoun, Charles W. ''Benjamin Harrison'' (2005), short biography by leading scholar