Harrison Benjamin

Harrison, Benjamin (b. 1833), twenty-third president of the United States, and grandson of William Henry, 9th president, was born at North Bend, Ohio. He began to practise as a lawyer at Indianapolis in 1854, and in 1860 became reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana. He raised a regiment for the Federals during the Civil War, and served with distinction at the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and Nashville during the year 1864. He then returned to legal practice, and was at the time an active politician on the Republican side. In 1876 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the governorship of Indiana. Three years later he actively supported Garfield's candidature for the presidency, but declined a seat in his cabinet. In 1880 he became a United States senator, but was not re-elected in 1886. In 1888 he was successful as the Republican and Protectionist candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated by his old democratic opponent, Cleveland, on seeking re-election in 1892, and retired to a professorship in California.