Welcome to Part Twenty-Two! It’s time for the president who had electricity installed in the White House, one who could be considered the second nepo leader. Let’s dive into the administration of Benjamin Harrison:
Enters office- 4th March 1889
Benjamin Harrison was inaugurated on the East Portico of the Capitol Building on this day. He was sworn in by Chief Justice Melville Fuller. His inaugural address was generally brief, emphasising the good of America: ‘I will not attempt to note the marvelous and in great part happy contrasts between our country as it steps over the threshold into its second century of organized existence under the Constitution and that weak but wisely ordered young nation that looked undauntedly down the first century, when all its years stretched out before it.’ The weather was famously extremely wet, with 0.86 inches of rainfall reported. Benjamin Harrison took the oath of office under an umbrella kindly held by outgoing president Grover Cleveland. The inaugural ball, held in the Pension Building, was a grand affair.
Starts major tour- 14th April 1889
Harrison began a major tour of the country, which included lots of the south and the west.
The Johnstown Flood occurs- 31st May 1889
The catastrophic Johnstown Flood occurred on this day. The South Fork Dam, not far from Pittsburgh, failed after heavy rainfall. 20 million tonnes of water with a height of eighty-nine feet and speed of forty miles per hour sped down towards the town of Johnstown, essentially annihilating it. 2,208 people died, made up of 99 families, with 222 left widowed, 750 victims unidentified, 1,600 homes destroyed and $17M in damages. Support crossed national and international barriers, and was the first example of a major relief effort by Clara Barton and her American Red Cross. Harrison would chair an event to raise donations.
Ends major tour- 1st June 1889
His tour ended on this day.
The Dakotas join the Union- 2nd November 1889
North and South Dakota join the Union on this day. Six states would join the Union during the Harrison administration, two almost straight after the Dakotas- North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana (8th Nov 1889), Washington (11th Nov 1889), Idaho (3rd July 1890) and Wyoming (10th July 1890). This was more than any other president.
Signs the Sherman Antitrust Act- 2nd July 1890
Harrison signed the Sherman Antitrust Act on this day. The act allowed the federal government and private citizens to go through the courts to break up monopolies or contracts. The governments also invalidated both formal and informal arrangements regarding set prices. It prohibited activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition, and anything that restrains both interstate and foreign trade. It has been used as a baseline for antitrust suits as recently as 2024.
Signs the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890- 14th July 1890
Harrison signed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 on this day. The act increased the amount of silver that the government was required to purchase each month. The government had felt pressure from both farmers and miners to do this, as it worked out better for both. It encouraged the already strong Free Silver movement.
Signs the Tariff Act of 1890- 1st October 1890
The Tariff Act of 1890, also known as the McKinley Tariff (named for Representative William McKinley, its main proponent), was signed on this day. A deeply controversial bill, it raised import duties to almost 50%. It was supported by Republicans but decried by Democrats, so much so that they would lower it with the Wilson-Gorman Tariff four years later. In revenge, the Democrats gerrymandered McKinley and he lost his seat. He got his final revenge in 1896/7- as you’ll see next time.
Wounded Knee Massacre- 29th December 1890
The infamous Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on this day. Around three-hundred Natives of the Lakota tribe were massacred by American soldiers, of whom twenty-five were also killed. Trouble had been brewing for a while, but an unspecified event triggered the massacre on the 29th December. Women and children were pursued for miles whilst escaping the carnage. The massacre is remembered to this day, and campaigns existed to remove the Medals of Honour given to men who fought there.
William Windom dies- 29th January 1891
Secretary of the Treasury William Windom died suddenly on this day. He was sixty-three years old and died suddenly of a heart attack whilst making a speech at the iconic Delmonico’s in NYC. Windom had served under three presidents- Garfield, Arthur and now Harrison. Harrison issued an executive order directing official mourning. Windom had been a close advisor to Harrison, and the president had taken a risk by choosing him. Charles S. Foster took over the role.
Signs act increasing the number of Representatives- 7th February 1891
Harrison signed an act making the apportionment of the House of the Representatives, bringing the number up to 356 based on the 1890 census. This would be effective in 1893.
Signs the Immigration Act of 1891- 3rd March 1891
Harrison signed the Immigration Act of 1891. It centralised control of immigration to the federal government and massively restricted certain classes of immigrant. This included the mentally ill, criminals and those with contagious diseases. Deportation was made easier and Ellis Island was more developed.
New Orleans Lynching- 14th March 1891
The New Orleans lynching happened on this day. Eleven Italian immigrants were murdered in revenge for the murder of police chief David Hennessy, who had blamed them when asked. The Mayor of New Orleans encouraged vengeance. Nine men were brought to court on murder charges, but said charges were very flimsy and they were all acquitted, given lesser charges or had a mistrial called. Anger at the lack of charges bubbled. Six of the men, plus five unrelated others, were lynched. Only one killer was charged.
White House wired for electricity- 1th September 1891
The White House moved with the times when it was wired for electricity over the summer, effective on this day. Nobody expected electricity to stay, so it supplemented gas lights. Harrison and his wife Caroline were terrified of electric shock- not an uncommon fear- and thus got the staff to turn the lights on and off.
Baltimore crisis- 16th October 1891
The Baltimore crisis happened on this day. Two US sailors on shore leave in Chile were attacked and killed by a mob, several more were injured. A diplomatic firestorm ensued, as the Americans were offended by the Chileans’ lack of respect or remorse. Fortunately, European powers stayed out of it and countries in the area supported America. The Chileans eventually apologised and paid $75,000 ($2.6M today) in gold.
Signs the Geary Act- 5th May 1892
The Geary Act was signed on this day. It extended the original Chinese Exclusion Act, signed ten years before, for another decade. Any Chinese or of Chinese descent was banned from entering the US, under pain of one year of hard labour. Those already living in the US were forced to carry a resident permit at all times to prove that they were permitted to stay.
James G. Blaine resigns- 4th June 1892
James G. Blaine resigned on this day. He’d already resigned as Secretary of State following President Arthur’s ascension to the office, but he was doing it this time allegedly in hopes of beating Harrison to the Republican nomination. Blaine had been the nominee in 1884 but had failed, and was hoping to win again. Whether or not Blaine, who was in poor health, wanted the nomination is uncertain, but he certainly acted like he didn’t. Blaine would die in January 1893.
Homestead Steel Strike- 6th July 1892
The Homestead Steel Strike in Pennsylvania occurred on this day. Discontent by labour had been evident for a while, and the Carnegie Company controversially hired private security- the famed Pinkertons. Twenty men- eleven strikers and nine Pinkertons- were killed when tensions boiled over and the security men arrived with Winchester rifles. Governor Pattinson of Pennsylvania sent in state troops, but federal forces were not ordered and Harrison did not comment on the issue. Whilst the Pinkertons surrendered, the attempted murder of company operator Henry Clay Frick did not help the situation. The strikers lost their right to unionise.
1892 Coeur d’Alene labour strike deaths- 12th July 1892
The 1892 Coeur d’Alene labour strike deaths happened in Idaho on this day. A strike had already started previously over increased hours with no corresponding pay rise, and a union worker was killed. In July, a union member named Charles Siringo was discovered to be a member of the Pinkertons, causing even more problems. Strikers opened fire on the workers and guards, who returned fire. A mill was also blown up. At least six men, including union and non-union workers, were killed. Martial law was ordered by Governor Willey, and both the Idaho National Guard and federal troops were sent. A new union was founded the next year, and the miners would be involved in another labour strike in 1899.
Signs Eight Hour Act- 1st August 1892
Harrison signed the Eight Hour Act on this day, restricting all government employees to an eight hour work day. This included labourers and contractors. The Democrats attacked Harrison for being ‘anti-labour.’
Caroline Harrison dies- 25th October 1892
Caroline Harrison became the second First Lady who died in office when she passed away on this day. Mrs. Harrison had been quite ill for some time so her death was not unexpected, and President Harrison had suspended campaigning to care for her. It was suspected that he was having an affair with her niece and aide, the widowed Mary Dimmick, as she was dying, though the exact timing has never been proven. Caroline died of tuberculosis and complications of it. She was sixty. Both campaigns stopped their activities out of respect and daughter Mary acted as First Lady for the rest of the administration, having done so during her mother’s illness.
Loses reelection- 8th November 1892
Harrison lost his rematch to Grover Cleveland on this day. Harrison’s tariffs were among the reasons why he lost.
Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii is deposed- 17th January 1893
Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii was deposed on this day. A mix of American, European and Hawaii subjects were responsible. It mainly came down to the interest of American businessmen and politicians, for whom annexing Hawaii would be favourable. The Queen was arrested and imprisoned, but later freed and pardoned. Attempts to seek legal avenues against the Americans failed, but she was given a pension. She died in 1917.
Encourages annexation of Hawaii- 15th February 1893
In one of his final acts as president, Harrison encouraged the annexation of Hawaii. A treaty had been drawn up, but was withdrawn by President Cleveland in December. Hawaii would be a republic until 1898 when it was annexed by the Americans. It would be a territory until it joined the Union as the 50th state in 1959.
Leaves office- 4th March 1893
Benjamin Harrison handed the keys back to Grover Cleveland and left the White House on this day. He returned to Indianapolis to practice law and also travelled abroad in a legal capacity. In 1896, he married his wife’s niece (and the cousin of his children) Mary Dimmick, who he’s suspected to have had an affair with whilst his wife was still alive. His children were appalled, as she was younger than them and their own cousin. They did not speak to him again, at least until his death. Harrison and Mary had a daughter named Elizabeth in 1897. Benjamin Harrison died on the 13th March 1901, six months and one day before William McKinley. He had pneumonia and was sixty-seven. Harrison is generally ranked average by historians and the public, respected for his strong integrity and support for African-Americans, but disliked for his tariffs.
That’s it for Benjamin Harrison. Tune in next time for William McKinley, in which we’ll see him deal with the Spanish-American War, monetary policy and two very different VPs.
