Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1888'

(Tuesday, November 6, 1888, during the United States presidential election, 1888) — Former Republican U.S. Senator Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, grandson of former President William H. Harrison (1841), was elected President of the United States today, defeating Democratic incumbent President Grover Cleveland of New York.

Harrison and his running mate, former U.S. Representative Levi P. Morton of New York, lost to Cleveland and his running mate, former U.S. Senator Allen G. Thurman of Ohio (Cleveland’s vice president, Thomas A. Hendricks, had died Nov.  25, 1885), 47.80-48.63% in the national popular vote, but won 233-168 in the Electoral College.

It was the third of five U.S. presidential elections in which the winner did not win a plurality or majority of the national popular vote.

Harrison and Morton would be sworn in for four-year terms on March 4, 1889.