Benjamin Harrison

President of the United States, 1889-1893 (1833–1901)

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Lived 1833–1901, aged 68United States

United States PoliticiansPolitician

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125 languages
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Era
1833–1901
Aged 68

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

The only president sandwiched by the same opponent: Benjamin Harrison beat Grover Cleveland in 1888 despite losing the popular vote, then lost the rematch four years later — making Cleveland the sole president to serve non-consecutive terms.

Biography

About

Born in 1833 on an Ohio River farm, Harrison carried a loaded surname: grandson of a president, great-grandson of a Founding Father. He moved to Indianapolis, built a law practice, and led a Presbyterian congregation before the Civil War pulled him into uniform as a Union colonel. The Senate came in 1881, the presidency in 1888 on an Electoral College win that defied the popular tally. His four years delivered the McKinley Tariff, the Sherman Antitrust Act, six new western states, and the first billion-dollar federal budget — spending that helped sink his party in the 1890 midterms. Cleveland…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison

said28 Aug 1891

I cannot always sympathize with that demand which we hear so frequently for cheap things. Things may be too cheap.

— Speech in Rutland, Vermont (28 August 1891) as reported in The New York Times (29 August 1891), p. 5

Benjamin Harrison

said3 Dec 1889

It has been the hope of every patriot that a sense of justice and of respect for the law would work a gradual cure of these flagrant evils.

— Benjamin Harrison's First State of the Union Address (3 December 1889)

Benjamin Harrison

said3 Dec 1889

When and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot? When is he in fact to have those full civil rights which have so long been his in law?

— Benjamin Harrison's First State of the Union Address (3 December 1889)

Benjamin Harrison

said3 Dec 1889

The colored people did not intrude themselves upon us. They were brought here in chains and held in the communities where they are now chiefly found by a cruel slave code.

— Benjamin Harrison's First State of the Union Address (3 December 1889)

Benjamin Harrison

said4 Mar 1889

The virtues of courage and patriotism have given recent proof of their continued presence and increasing power in the hearts and over the lives of our people.

— Washington, D.C. (4 March 1889) - Full text online at Wikisource

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