William B. McKinley

William Brown McKinley (September 5, 1856 – December 7, 1926) was an American banker and Republican politician who represented the state of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives for seven terms (1905–1913, 1915–1921) and in the United States Senate for one term from 1921 to 1926.

William Brown McKinley
United States Senator from Illinois
In office March 4, 1921 – December 7, 1926
Preceded by	Lawrence Yates Sherman
Succeeded by	Otis F. Glenn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th district
In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921
Preceded by	Charles M. Borchers
Succeeded by	Allen F. Moore
In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Vespasian Warner
Succeeded by	Charles M. Borchers
Personal details
Born	(1856-09-05)September 5, 1856 Petersburg, Illinois, U.S.
Died	December 7, 1926(1926-12-07) (aged 70) Martinsville, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of Illinois

He also served as national campaign manager for President William Howard Taft's re-election bid in 1912, securing Taft's nomination by the Republican National Convention.

Biography

William Brown McKinley was born on September 5, 1856, near Petersburg, Illinois.

After attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, in around 1875 McKinley worked as a drug-store clerk in Springfield. He soon returned to Champaign to become a banker, specializing in farm mortgages.^[1] He entered politics in 1902, being elected a trustee of the University of Illinois. McKinley ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1904, winning his first of four consecutive terms. He lost re-election to the House in 1912.^[2] His re-election loss coincided with his service as national campaign manager for incumbent President William H. Taft, who also lost in 1912.^[3]

Voters in 1914 returned McKinley to the U.S. House,^[4] where he served from 1915 until 1921. In 1920, McKinley was elected to the U.S. Senate, taking office in 1921. In 1926, he ran for re-election and lost to Frank L. Smith (who ultimately was denied the seat by the Senate on the grounds of fraud and corruption in his campaign).^[5]

McKinley also was chief executive of the Illinois Traction System, an interurban electric railway. The McKinley Bridge between Venice, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri was named for him. The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is also named for him. McKinley died aged 70 in Martinsville, Indiana.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

1. Friedman Jr., H. George. "Twin Cities Traction". University of Illinois. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
2. "McKinley Says He Expected Defeat". The Detroit Times. 8 November 1912. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
3. "McKinley's Choice Means Old Guard Control of G.O.P." The Washington Times. 9 February 1912. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
4. "Illinois Vote Gives Neither Much Leeway". The Washington Herald. 5 November 1914. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
5. "The Election Case of Frank L. Smith of Illinois (1928)". United States Senate. Retrieved 9 April 2021.

External links

• Media related to William B. McKinley at Wikimedia Commons
• United States Congress. "William B. McKinley (id: M000521)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Party political offices
Preceded by Lawrence Yates Sherman	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Illinois (Class 3) 1920	Succeeded by Frank L. Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Vespasian Warner	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th congressional district 1905–1913	Succeeded by Charles M. Borchers
Preceded by Charles M. Borchers	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th congressional district 1915–1921	Succeeded by Allen F. Moore
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Lawrence Yates Sherman	U.S. senator (Class 3) from Illinois 1921–1926 Served alongside: Joseph M. McCormick, Charles S. Deneen	Succeeded by Frank L. Smith (not allowed to take his seat)