1776: Benjamin Harrison's great-grandfather, also named Benjamin Harrison, is one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence

1833: Benjamin Harrison is born in Ohio

1840: William Henry Harrison, Benjamin's grandfather, is elected president when young Ben is seven years old

1854: Benjamin Harrison opens law practice in Indianapolis

1862: Begins fighting in Civil War (1861- 65); finishes the war as brigadier general

1876: Loses Indiana governor's race

1881-87: Serves in U.S. Senate

1888: Defeats incumbent Grover Cleveland to become the "centennial president," elected to office one hundred years after George Washington became the first U.S. president

1889-93: Serves as twenty-third U.S. president

1892: Loses presidential election to former president Cleveland

1901: Dies in Indiana