🎩Benjamin Harrison

23rd President · 1889–1893 · Republican

Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of the ninth president William Henry Harrison, making them the only grandparent-grandchild pair of presidents. He lost the popular vote to incumbent Grover Cleveland in 1888 but won the Electoral College. His single term admitted six states to the Union (the most of any term), signed the Sherman Antitrust Act, and raised tariffs sharply through the McKinley Tariff.

Hoosier Lawyer and General

Harrison grew up on his grandfather's Ohio farm, graduated from Miami University, and settled in Indianapolis as a lawyer. He was a Union brigadier general in the Civil War. He won a U.S. Senate seat in 1881 and represented Indiana in Washington before the 1888 presidential nomination.

Six New States

Harrison's first year in office saw four new states admitted on the same day — November 2, 1889: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. Idaho and Wyoming followed in 1890. No other single presidential term has admitted more states.

Sherman Antitrust and McKinley Tariff

Harrison signed the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the first federal law against monopolistic business practices. The same year's McKinley Tariff raised import duties to their highest levels ever, a policy that hurt Republicans politically and contributed to their 1890 midterm defeat. Harrison also signed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, later blamed for the Panic of 1893.

Electric Lights and Loss

Harrison's administration installed electric lighting in the White House — though he and his wife reportedly refused to touch the switches for fear of electrocution. His wife Caroline died two weeks before the November 1892 election, and Harrison lost his rematch with Grover Cleveland.

B. Harrison Trivia

• He and his grandfather William Henry Harrison are the only grandparent-grandchild presidents.
• Harrison was nicknamed "Little Ben" — he was 5'6" — and critics said he wore his grandfather's hat.
• He signed legislation creating the first federal forest reserves, a precursor to the National Forest System.
• Harrison is the only president from Indiana.

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