Benjamin Harrison was a grandson of our ninth president, William Harrison. He began his public career as a court reporter. Later he practiced law and served in the Civil War as a 2nd Lieutenant, with promotion to Colonel.

Harrison declined a place in Garfield’s cabinet, but was elected to the U. S. Senate. He led the Senate in opposition to Cleveland’s vetoes. Harrison was a strong advocate of civil service reform.

As the Republican candidate in 1888, he had defeated Cleveland and served one term as chief executive. After his defeat for re-election, he resumed his law practice and was chief counsel in the arbitration suit between Venezuela and British Guinea on a boundary line dispute.