Benjamin Harrison was born on the 20th of August 1833 on a farm by the Ohio River in North Bend, Ohio. He grew up as the second of ten children to John Scott Harrison and Elizabeth Ramsey Irwin.
Benjamin Harrison served as a colonel who commanded the 70th Indiana regiment and later led the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the XX Corps. He participated in major battles including Resaca Cassville New Hope Church Lost Mountain Kennesaw Mountain Marietta Peachtree Creek and Atlanta during General William T. Sherman's Atlanta campaign in May 1864.
Benjamin Harrison served in the Senate from the 4th of March 1881 to the 3rd of March 1887. He chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard during the 47th Congress and the U.S. Senate Committee on Territories during the 48th and 49th Congresses.
Benjamin Harrison signed the McKinley Tariff into law creating the highest average rate in American history and also signed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in July 1890. These measures contributed to pension expenditures reaching $135 million under his administration and increased depletion of the nation's gold supply.
Benjamin Harrison oversaw rapid construction of warships including Indiana Oregon Maine and Texas which transformed the United States into a legitimate naval power by 1898. Seven of these modern steel-hulled vessels had begun during his term with help from the Carnegie Corporation.