Russell Benjamin Harrison
Encyclopedia
Russell Benjamin Harrison (August 12, 1854–December 13, 1936), also known as Russell Lord Harrison, was the son of United States President Benjamin Harrison
and Caroline Harrison
.
, Harrison grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana
where his father had a successful law practice. Harrison graduated from the Pennsylvania Military Academy and in 1877 graduated from Lafayette College
where he took courses in mining and engineering. In 1878, his grandfather John Scott Harrison
was exhumed from his grave and hung by his neck in tree near the Ohio Medical College. Harrison oversaw communication with newspapers during the incident.
At the end of 1878 he moved to Helena, Montana
where he took a job in the U.S. Assay Office with the help of his father who was then a United States Senator. During his time there, he met and married Mary Saunders, the daughter of Governor Alvin Saunders
on January 10, 1884. The couple had two children, William Henry
and Marthena. In 1885 the family moved to briefly to New York City
, but had returned to Montana by 1890 when Harrison purchased the Helena Daily Journal. He became estranged from his father following his father's remarriage to a much younger woman, Mary Scott Lord Dimmick
, but inherited a large part of his estate when he died in 1901.
Using the wealth, he invested in the Austin and Northwestern Railway, public transportation systems in Richmond and Muncie, Indiana, and engaged in land speculation in Montana. In 1894, Harrison moved to Terre Haute, Indiana
as president of the Terre Haute Street Railway Company, which he reorganized into the Terre Haute Electric Street Railway Company. His son William
was born in Terre Haute in 1896. During the late 1890s, he was admitted to the bar. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
he enlisted for service and was given the rank of major. He served in the force that occupied Puerto Rico
and later became inspector general of Puerto Rico. When the war ended he moved his family to Indianapolis where he setup a law office.
In 1908 he returned to public service, serving as consul to Mexico
until 1927, and doubling as the consul to Portugal from 1919 to 1927. He first entered politics in 1921, serving two two-year terms in the Indiana House of Representatives
. In 1925 he was elected to the Indiana State Senate where he served two four year terms. He died of a heart attack in Indianapolis on December 13, 1936.
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
and Caroline Harrison
Caroline Harrison
Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison , wife of Benjamin Harrison, was first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death. She was the first “first lady” to be born in October.-Early life:...
.
Life
Born in Oxford, OhioOxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, Harrison grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where his father had a successful law practice. Harrison graduated from the Pennsylvania Military Academy and in 1877 graduated from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
where he took courses in mining and engineering. In 1878, his grandfather John Scott Harrison
John Scott Harrison
John Scott Harrison was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio and the only man to be both the son and the father of U.S. Presidents. His father, William Henry Harrison was the 9th President in 1841; and, his son, Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President from 1889-1893...
was exhumed from his grave and hung by his neck in tree near the Ohio Medical College. Harrison oversaw communication with newspapers during the incident.
At the end of 1878 he moved to Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
where he took a job in the U.S. Assay Office with the help of his father who was then a United States Senator. During his time there, he met and married Mary Saunders, the daughter of Governor Alvin Saunders
Alvin Saunders
Alvin Saunders was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, in the United States, as well as the governor of the Nebraska Territory for most of the American Civil War.-Education:Saunders was born in Fleming County, Kentucky...
on January 10, 1884. The couple had two children, William Henry
William H. Harrison (Wyoming Congressman)
William Henry Harrison was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. representative from Wyoming.-Political career:...
and Marthena. In 1885 the family moved to briefly to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but had returned to Montana by 1890 when Harrison purchased the Helena Daily Journal. He became estranged from his father following his father's remarriage to a much younger woman, Mary Scott Lord Dimmick
Mary Dimmick Harrison
Mary Dimmick Harrison was the second wife of the 23rd United States president Benjamin Harrison. She was 25 years younger than Harrison, and was the niece of his first wife.- Biography :...
, but inherited a large part of his estate when he died in 1901.
Using the wealth, he invested in the Austin and Northwestern Railway, public transportation systems in Richmond and Muncie, Indiana, and engaged in land speculation in Montana. In 1894, Harrison moved to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
as president of the Terre Haute Street Railway Company, which he reorganized into the Terre Haute Electric Street Railway Company. His son William
William H. Harrison (Wyoming Congressman)
William Henry Harrison was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. representative from Wyoming.-Political career:...
was born in Terre Haute in 1896. During the late 1890s, he was admitted to the bar. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
he enlisted for service and was given the rank of major. He served in the force that occupied Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and later became inspector general of Puerto Rico. When the war ended he moved his family to Indianapolis where he setup a law office.
In 1908 he returned to public service, serving as consul to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
until 1927, and doubling as the consul to Portugal from 1919 to 1927. He first entered politics in 1921, serving two two-year terms in the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
. In 1925 he was elected to the Indiana State Senate where he served two four year terms. He died of a heart attack in Indianapolis on December 13, 1936.