William B. McKinley

For the Democratic state legislator from Illinois, see William B. McKinley (Illinois state legislator).

William Brown McKinley
United States Senator from Illinois
In office March 4, 1921 – December 7, 1926
Preceded by	Lawrence Yates Sherman
Succeeded by	Otis F. Glenn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th district
In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921
Preceded by	Charles M. Borchers
Succeeded by	Allen F. Moore
In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Vespasian Warner
Succeeded by	Charles M. Borchers
Personal details
Born	(1856-09-05)September 5, 1856 Petersburg, Illinois, U.S.
Died	December 7, 1926(1926-12-07) (aged 70) Martinsville, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of Illinois

William Brown McKinley (September 5, 1856 – December 7, 1926) was a U.S. Representative (1905–1913, 1915–1921) and United States Senator (1921–1926) from the State of Illinois. A member of the Republican Party, he was born near Petersburg, Illinois.

Biography

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, McKinley became a drug clerk in Springfield. He returned to Champaign to become a banker. In 1902, he was elected a trustee of the university. McKinley ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1905, winning his first of four consecutive terms. In 1913, he ran for the U.S. Senate against Lawrence Yates Sherman and lost.

He ran for Congress again in 1914 and won, serving from 1915 until 1921. In 1920, McKinley ran against Sherman for the Senate, this time winning. In 1926, he ran for re-election and lost to Frank L. Smith (who ultimately was denied the seat by the Senate on the grounds of fraud and corruption in his campaign).

McKinley was also chief executive of the Illinois Traction System. The McKinley Bridge between Venice, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri was named for him. The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is also named for him. McKinley died aged 70 in Martinsville, Indiana.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

External links

• Media related to William B. McKinley at Wikimedia Commons

• United States Congress. "William B. McKinley (id: M000521)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.