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William Jennings Bryan

American politician (1860-1925) · United States · Politicians · Died at 65

William Jennings Bryan is read about 814 times a day, in 44 languages.

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Three runs for president, three losses - yet he reshaped American politics from the outside. Bryan turned the stump speech into mass spectacle, reached millions before radio existed, and dragged the Democratic Party left toward progressivism even as the White House stayed out of reach.

PoliticiansPoliticianPoliticsLawLiteratureUnited StatesAmericas19th Century

A life in dates

1925Died26 July 1925“Why, these men would destroy the Bible on evidence that would not convict a habitual criminal of a misdemeanor.”In their words12 July 1925The New York Times, 12 Jul 1925

1923Honorary doctorate of the University of FloridaAward1896“You cannot judge a man's life by the success of a moment, by the victory of an hour, or even by the results of a year. You must view his life as a whole.”In their words"The Law and the Gospel" (1896)

“This is not a contest between persons. The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error.”In their words9 July 1896Speech at the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois (9 July 1896)

1890“No government can long endure unless its citizens are willing to make some sacrifice for its existence.”In their wordsFebruary 1890"The Jury System", delivered in response to a toast at a bar association banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska (February 1890)

1881“Success is brought by continued labor and continued watchfulness. We must struggle on, not for one moment hesitate, nor take one backward step.”In their wordsIllinois College Valedictory (1881)

“Character is the entity, the individuality of the person, shining from every window of the soul, either as a beam of purity, or as a clouded ray that betrays the impurity within.”In their wordsIllinois College Graduating Oration (1881)

1860Born19 March 1860

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

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In their own words 10

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William Jennings Bryan
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10 statements, newest first

  1. Why, these men would destroy the Bible on evidence that would not convict a habitual criminal of a misdemeanor.

    Jul 12, 1925, The New York Times, 12 Jul 1925, Own words

  2. And who can suffer injury by just taxation, impartial laws and the application of the Jeffersonian doctrine of equal rights to all and special privileges to none?

    Aug 30, 1906, Address at Madison Square Garden, New York (30 August 1906), at a reception welcoming Bryan on his return from a year's trip around the, Own words

  3. Next to the ministry I know of no more noble profession than the law.

    1896, "The Law and the Gospel" (1896), Own words

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Awards

Honorary doctorate of the University of Florida1923

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William Jennings Bryan

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About this person

Born in Illinois in 1860, Bryan moved to Nebraska and won a House seat in 1890. At the 1896 Democratic convention he delivered his "Cross of Gold" speech, attacking the gold standard and eastern money, and walked out with the nomination at 36 - the youngest major party candidate in U.S. history. He invented the national stumping tour that year, speaking to 5 million people across 27 states, but lost to McKinley. He won the nomination again in 1900, campaigning against American imperialism after serving as a colonel in the Spanish-American War, and lost again. After a party detour in 1904, he reclaimed the nomination in 1908 and lost a third time, to Taft. Wilson made him secretary of state in 1913; he helped pass progressive reforms but resigned in 1915, believing Wilson too harsh on Germany after the Lusitania sinking. His final act was prosecuting the 1925 Scopes trial against teaching evolution. He died in July that year, days after the verdict.

Country
United States
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1860 to 1925 · aged 65

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