Caroline Harrison

 

Caroline Harrison

Caroline Harrison

American first lady

   

Also known as: Caroline Lavinia Scott

Written by

Fact-checked by

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2024 • Article History

Harrison, Caroline

Harrison, Caroline

See all media

Née: Caroline Lavinia Scott

Born: October 1, 1832, Oxford, Ohio, U.S.

Died: October 25, 1892, Washington, D.C. (aged 60)

Title / Office: first lady (1889-1893)

Caroline Harrison, born in 1832 in Oxford, Ohio, was a remarkable American first lady from 1889 to 1892, during her husband Benjamin Harrison's presidency. She was a passionate history enthusiast and also held the prestigious position of the first president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

 

Caroline, the daughter of John Scott and Mary Potts Neal Scott, excelled in her studies, particularly in painting and music, while attending schools in southern Ohio. She met Benjamin Harrison, who was a student of her father's, and they married in 1853. Throughout her husband's legal and political career, Caroline cared for their two children and actively participated in community activities in Indianapolis.

Known for her artistic talents and dedication to her family, Caroline continued to paint for leisure wherever they lived, earning a reputation as an exemplary housewife.

Caroline Harrison found herself thrust into the spotlight when her husband became president in 1888. Women's magazines were eager to publish articles about the president's family, including Caroline's extended family living in the White House. Despite the attention, Caroline joked that others knew more about the Harrisons than they did themselves.

Wanting to improve the White House living quarters, Caroline collaborated with architect Fred D. Owen on expansion plans. She proposed adding wings for an art gallery and offices while keeping the main structure intact. Unfortunately, Congress rejected the plan, leaving Caroline to work with the limited space available. She did oversee renovations, including the installation of electric lighting, to make the White House more comfortable during her time as the First Lady.

Caroline was determined to bring a touch of American ingenuity and craftsmanship to the White House, so she took charge of designing a new set of state china adorned with goldenrod and sweet corn motifs. Unimpressed with the quality of china made in the U.S., she opted to have the dishes crafted in France instead. Besides her involvement in the Daughters of the American Revolution, she also played a role in fundraising for the medical school at Johns Hopkins University.

Although not an outspoken advocate for women's rights, Caroline supported the idea of admitting women to the new medical school. Sadly, her life was cut short by tuberculosis during her husband's reelection campaign in 1892, She died on October 25th, making her the second first lady to pass away in the White House. She was laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

After her death, her husband, Benjamin, eventually remarried Mary Dimmick. Speculation swirled about the timing of their relationship, and when Benjamin passed away in 1901, his children, who never fully accepted the second marriage, buried him next to Caroline.

 

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Pheonix University in Business Management, then a degree in Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology, her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. In her spare time, Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, Gouache, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 6 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, and opinion or history pieces each week.