History UsefulNotes / BenjaminHarrison

Benjamin Harrison [[note]] Benjamin Harrison VI whose namesake and great-grandfather Benjamin Harrison V (April 5, 1726 - April 26, 1791) of the prestigious Harrison family of Virginia was among the patriots who protested against George III's harsh measures, signing the Declaration of Independence, and he also fathered future president William Henry Harrison in 1773.[[/note]] (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president of the UsefulNotes/UnitedStates, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the sixth who served from the Republican Party, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. He was also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote, the last to do so until UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush 112 years later, and UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump was elected over UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton in 2016.[[note]]Trump received 304 electoral votes and 62,984,838 popular votes to Hillary's 227 electoral votes and 65,853,514 popular votes, winning by an electoral college majority.[[/note]]This was at least partly the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president of the UsefulNotes/UnitedStates, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the sixth who served from the Republican Party, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote, the last to do so until UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush 112 years later. This was at least partly the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

Prior to his presidency, Harrison served in the American Civil War, he performed reconnaissance and guarded railroads in Kentucky and Tennessee, along with the rest of the 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment, he is also particularly famous for facing confederate captain Max Van Den Corput in the battle of Resaca.

He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private. He was the last president with a full beard; three mustachioed presidents (Cleveland in his second term, UsefulNotes/TheodoreRoosevelt, and UsefulNotes/WilliamHowardTaft) would follow. His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president of UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the sixth who served from the Republican Party, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote, the last to do so until UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush 112 years later. This was at least partly the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president of UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote, the last to do so until UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush 112 years later. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

As president, he signed the [=McKinley=] Tariff (one of the highest in US history, named after then-Representative UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley) and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Politically, his Congress managed to squander a massive surplus on Civil War pensions and pork barrel spending, and the national debt surpassed the $1-billion mark for the first time in American history. How much of this is his fault is one for the judges. Critics were outraged by the "Billion-Dollar Congress" and Harrison, and he lost re-election to Cleveland by a large margin in 1892. Harrison himself knew he didn't have much hope of re-election, and only ran because the Republican nomination-- so he thought-- would probably have otherwise gone to the party's unsuccessful 1884 candidate, James G. Blaine, a scandal-prone man whom Cleveland would likely have been beaten even harder.[[note]]The nomination would actually have more likely gone to [=McKinley=], who put in a strong performance in the primaries despite trying to refuse being nominated, leading to him being nominated, and elected, for real four years later.[[/note]]

He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private. He was the last president with a full beard; three mustachioed presidents (Cleveland II, UsefulNotes/TheodoreRoosevelt, and UsefulNotes/WilliamHowardTaft) would follow. His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

As president, he signed the [=McKinley=] Tariff (one of the highest in US history, named after then-Representative UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley) and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU4gGEL5c8g He was also the first president to be recorded on a phonograph.]]

Electricity was first installed in TheWhiteHouse during Harrison's term, supplementing the gas lights already in use since [[ItWillNeverCatchOn nobody at the time expected electricity to replace gas]]. Harrison and his wife, Caroline, refused to touch the electrical switches for fear of electrocution and left their operation to the White House staff. Two weeks before he lost his re-election bid, Caroline died after a long illness. Shortly after, Benjamin married a much younger woman, who happened to be his first wife's widowed niece. His two grown children, horrified at the thought of their dad remarrying so quickly (and to someone younger than them), refused to attend the wedding.

Politically, his Congress managed to squander a massive surplus on Civil War pensions and pork barrel spending, and the national debt surpassed the $1-billion mark for the first time in American history. How much of this is his fault is one for the judges. Critics were outraged by the "Billion-Dollar Congress" and Harrison, and he lost re-election to Cleveland by a large margin in 1892. Harrison himself knew he didn't have much hope of re-election, and only ran because the Republican nomination -- so he thought -- would probably have otherwise gone to the party's unsuccessful 1884 candidate, James G. Blaine, a scandal-prone man whom Cleveland would likely have been beaten even harder.[[note]]The nomination would actually have more likely gone to [=McKinley=], who put in a strong performance in the primaries despite trying to refuse being nominated, leading to him being nominated, and elected, for real four years later.[[/note]]

'''Benjamin Harrison''' (August 20, 1833 -- March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote, the last to do so until UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush 112 years later. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

As president, he signed the [=McKinley=] Tariff (one of the highest in US history, named after then-Representative UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley) and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU4gGEL5c8g He was also the first president to be recorded on a phonograph.]]

Electricity was first installed into the White House during Harrison's term, supplementing the gas lights already in use since no one at the time expected electricity to actually replace gas. Harrison and his wife refused to touch the electrical switches for fear of electrocution and left their operation to the White House staff. Two weeks before he lost his reelection bid, his wife died after a long illness. Shortly after, he married a much younger woman, who happened to be his first wife's widowed niece. His two adult children, horrified at the thought of their dad remarrying so quickly (and to someone younger than them), refused to attend the wedding.

Politically, his congress managed to squander a truly massive surplus on Civil War pensions and porkbarrel spending, and the national debt surpassed the one billion mark for the first time in American history. How much of this is his fault is one for the judges. Critics were outraged by the "Billion Dollar Congress" and Harrison, and he lost reelection to Cleveland. Harrison himself knew that he didn't really have a prayer of re-election, and only ran because the Republican nomination -- so he thought -- would probably have otherwise gone to the party's unsuccessful 1884 candidate, James G. Blaine, who would have been trounced even more comprehensively by Cleveland.[[note]](The nomination would actually have more likely gone to [=McKinley=], who put in a strong performance in the primaries despite trying to refuse being nominated, leading to him being nominated for real four years later)[[/note]]

He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private. He was the last President with a full beard; three mustachioed Presidents (Cleveland II, Roosevelt, and Taft) would follow. His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Has a nice house that you can visit downtown.

Politically, his congress managed to squander a truly massive surplus on Civil War pensions and porkbarrel spending, and the national debt surpassed the one billion mark for the first time in American history. How much of this is his fault is one for the judges. Critics were outraged by the "Billion Dollar Congress" and Harrison, and he lost reelection to Cleveland.

He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private. His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Electricity was first installed into the White House during Harrison's term, supplementing the gas lights already in use since no one at the time expected electricity to actually replace gas. Harrison and his wife refused to touch the electrical switches for fear of electrocution and left their operation to the White House staff. Two weeks before he lost his reelection bid, his wife died after a long illness. Shortly after, he married a [[MayDecemberRomance much younger woman]], who happened to be his first wife's widowed niece. His two adult children, horrified at the thought of their dad remarrying so quickly (and to someone younger than them), refused to attend the wedding.

Electricity was first installed into the White House during Harrison's term, supplementing the gas lights already in use since no one at the time expected electricity to actually replace gas. Harrison and his wife refused to touch the electrical switches for fear of electrocution and left their operation to the White House staff. Two weeks before he lost his reelection bid, his wife died after a long illness. Shortly after, he married a [[MayDecemberRomance much younger woman]], who happened to be his first wife's widowed niece. His two adult children, horrified at the thought of their dad [[ReplacementScrappy remarrying so quickly]] (and to someone younger than them), refused to attend the wedding.

[[NiceCharacterMeanActor He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private.]] His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

->''"He is a coldblooded, narrow-minded, prejudiced, obstinate, timid old psalm-singing Indianapolis politician."''
-->--'''UsefulNotes/TheodoreRoosevelt'''

Electricity was first installed into the White House during Harrison's term, supplementing the gas lights already in use since no one at the time expected electricity to actually replace gas. Harrison and his wife refused to touch the electrical switches for fear of electrocution and left their operation to the White House staff. Two weeks before he lost his reelection bid, his wife died after a long illness. Shortly after, he married a [[MayDecemberRomance much younger woman]]. His two adult children, horrified at the thought of their dad [[ReplacementScrappy remarrying so quickly]] (and to someone younger than them), refused to attend the wedding.

'''Benjamin Harrison''' (August 20, 1833 -- March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president (UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison, albeit very briefly) and the only one to be preceded and succeeded by the same man, UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

->''"We Americans have no commission from God to police the world."''\\
--'''Benjamin Harrison'''

->''"He is a coldblooded, narrow-minded, prejudiced, obstinate, timid old psalm-singing Indianapolis politician."''\\
--'''UsefulNotes/TheodoreRoosevelt'''

'''Benjamin Harrison''' (August 20, 1833 -- March 13, 1901) was the twenty-third president, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president ([[UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison albeit very briefly]]) and the only one to be [[UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland preceded and succeeded by the same man]]. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

As president, he signed the [=McKinley=] Tariff (one of the highest in US history, named after then-Representative UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley) and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. He was also the first president to be recorded on a phonograph.

The twenty-third president, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president ([[UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison albeit very briefly]]) and the only one to be [[UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland preceded and succeeded by the same man]]. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

[[NiceCharacterMeanActor He was very charismatic in public but ice cold in private.]] His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

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!!Tropes embodied by Benjamin Harrison:

* EmbarrassingNickname: The Human Iceberg, for his cold and unfeeling personality.
* FormallyNamedPet: He had two pet opossums named Mr. Protection and Mr. Reciprocity.
* IceKing: To the point that he was nicknamed "The Human Iceberg" because of his cold and deatached personality.
* LastOfHisKind: Harrison was the last President who was in the Whig Party, before joining the Republicans, like so many Whigs did. So while UsefulNotes/MillardFillmore is ''officially'' the last Whig President, Harrison can be considered the last one in spirit.
* NiceCharacterMeanActor: He was very charismatic and appealing in public but was very cold and unfeeling in his private life.
* TheQuietOne
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The twenty-third president, who served from [[TheGildedAge 1889]] to [[TheGayNineties 1893]] and came from UsefulNotes/{{Indianapolis}}, the only president whose grandfather was also president ([[UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison albeit very briefly]]) and the only one to be [[GroverCleveland preceded and succeeded by the same man]]. Also one of the few presidents who lost the popular vote but won a majority of the electoral vote. This was at least partially the result of blatant fraud; though Harrison himself was completely uninvolved, some of his supporters openly bought electoral votes to get him elected. He was America's centennial president, being inaugurated exactly 100 years after UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington.

As president, he signed the [=McKinley=] Tariff (one of the highest in US history, named after then-Representative WilliamMcKinley) and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. He was also the first president to be recorded on a phonograph.