William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860-July 26, 1925) was an American politician in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was from the Midwest. He is known for supporting causes such as the silver standard or creationism. In the 1890s, he was a Congressman from Nebraska. He gained fame in 1896 for the "Cross of Gold Speech", a speech about the American economy he gave to the Democratic Party. He ran for President as a Democrat three times, in 1896, 1900, and 1908, but lost each time. During this time, he was the main leader of the Democratic Party. He was one of the first people who gave lots of speeches around the country while running for President, and continued to give speeches even when not running on what was called the "Chatauqua Circuit". He was United States Secretary of State from 1913 to 1915. In his last years, he was one of the lawyers in the Scopes Monkey Trial. He is portrayed in the movie Inherit the Wind by the character Matthew Harrison Brady.
William Jennings Bryan | |
|---|---|
| File:WilliamJBryan1902.png | |
| 41st United States Secretary of State | |
| In office March 5, 1913 – June 9, 1915 | |
| President | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | Philander C. Knox |
| Succeeded by | Robert Lansing |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | William James Connell |
| Succeeded by | Jesse Burr Strode |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 19, 1860 Salem, Illinois[1] |
| Died | July 26, 1925 (aged 65) Dayton, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Baird Bryan |
| Children | Ruth Bryan Owen, William Jennings Bryan Jr., Grace Bryan |
| Alma mater | Illinois College, Union College of Law |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
| Signature | William Jennings Bryan's signature |
William Jennings Bryan Media
- William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home.jpg
Bryan's birthplace in Salem, Illinois
- Mary Baird Bryan cph.3a35947.jpg
Attorney Mary Baird Bryan, the wife of William Jennings Bryan
- Bryan, Hon. Wm. J. Trim.jpg
Portrait by C. M. Bell c. 1891–1894
- "IN BRYAN WE TRUST" political satire in 1896, from- "Bryan Money," ca. 1896 (4360222454) (cropped).jpg
"UNITED SNAKES OF AMERICA" "IN BRYAN WE TRUST" political satire token of 1896, known as "Bryan Money"
- William-Jennings-Bryan-speaking-c1896.jpeg
Bryan campaigning for president, October 1896
- ElectoralCollege1896.svg
1896 electoral vote results
- American Colonies.png
The United States and its colonial possessions after the Spanish–American War
- ElectoralCollege1900.svg
1900 electoral vote results
Speech by Bryan on the railroad question, 1908.
References
- ↑ William Jennings Bryan Nebraska State Historical Society