Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison

Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was the wife of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1889 until her death in 1892. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and supported various Washington, D.C. charities, including the Washington National Monument Society and the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was also an advocate for the Johns Hopkins University and the Arts and Industries Building of the Smithsonian Institution. Her interests included music, art, and literature, and she was a patron of the Washington, D.C. Corcoran Gallery of Art and the United States Botanic Garden.

● Early Life and Education

Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was born in Oxford, Ohio, to John Witherspoon Scott and Mary Potts Neal Scott, and was raised in a family that valued education and the arts. She attended the Oxford Female Institute and later the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she met her future husband, Benjamin Harrison. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was also influenced by her uncle, John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister and Princeton University president. Her family was connected to the Whig Party and the Republican Party, and she was acquainted with prominent figures such as William Henry Harrison, John Quincy Adams, and Abraham Lincoln.

● Marriage and Family

In 1853, Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison married Benjamin Harrison, a lawyer and Civil War veteran, and the couple had three children: Russell Benjamin Harrison, Mary Scott Harrison, and Elizabeth Harrison. The family lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Benjamin Harrison practiced law and became involved in Indiana politics. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was a supportive wife and mother, managing the household and raising their children while her husband pursued his career. She was also a member of the Indianapolis Literary Club and the Indiana State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and supported various local charities, including the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum and the Indiana Hospital for the Insane.

● White House Years

As First Lady of the United States, Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison oversaw the renovation of the White House, including the addition of electric lighting and the expansion of the White House library. She also hosted numerous social events, including state dinners and receptions, and supported the Washington, D.C. charity scene. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was a patron of the United States Marine Band and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and she encouraged the development of the National Museum of Natural History and the National Zoo. Her husband, Benjamin Harrison, signed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the General Land Office bill, and Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison supported his policies, including the McKinley Tariff and the Federal Elections Bill.

● Philanthropy and Interests

Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was a dedicated philanthropist and supported various causes, including the Washington National Monument Society, the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the American Red Cross. She was also an advocate for women's education and supported the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of America, and she supported the preservation of historic sites and monuments, including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Her interests included music, art, and literature, and she was a patron of the Washington, D.C. theater scene, including the National Theatre and the Washington Opera House.

● Death and Legacy

Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison died of tuberculosis on October 25, 1892, at the White House, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her legacy includes her support of the arts and education, as well as her philanthropic work in Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis, Indiana. Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison was also a pioneer for women's rights and supported the women's suffrage movement, including the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Her husband, Benjamin Harrison, went on to serve out the remainder of his term as President of the United States, and later became a law professor at Stanford University and a trustee of the Carnegie Institution for Science. Category:First Ladies of the United States