Mary Harrison McKee

Mary Harrison McKee
Acting First Lady of the United States
In role October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893
President	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	Caroline Harrison
Succeeded by	Frances Cleveland
Personal details
Born	Mary Scott Harrison (1858-04-03)April 3, 1858 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died	October 28, 1930(1930-10-28) (aged 72) Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting place	Crown Hill Cemetery
Spouse	James McKee ​ (m. 1884)​
Children	Benjamin Mary
Parent(s)	Benjamin Harrison (father) Caroline Scott (mother)

Mary Scott McKee (née Harrison; April 3, 1858 – October 28, 1930) was the only daughter of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, and his wife Caroline Scott Harrison outside of her infant sister who died shortly after birth.

After her mother died in 1892, McKee served as her father's First Lady for the remainder of his term.

Married with children by the time her father was elected as president, Mary and her family lived at the White House during her father's term. She assisted by serving as a hostess.

Early life and education

Mary Scott Harrison was born in Indianapolis in 1858 and was educated in public schools.

Marriage and family

Mary Harrison McKee in her wedding gown. Married James Robert McKee at First Presbyterian Church, November 5, 1884. Photographed by W.H. Potter of Indianapolis. From the collections of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.

In November 1884, Mary Harrison married James Robert McKee (1857–1942), a native of Madison, Indiana, whom she met in Indianapolis. After her father was elected president in 1888, she and her family lived with her parents in the White House through his term.

Traveling frequently to Boston on business, McKee became acquainted with Charles A. Coffin and joined his Thomson-Houston Electric Company. In 1893 McKee became one of the founding generation of the General Electric company when Coffin merged his company with that of Thomas Edison. McKee rose to become a vice-president of the company and worked for GE until 1913.

Mary and James McKee had two children, Benjamin Harrison McKee (known as "Baby") and Mary Lodge McKee. Their daughter married a Mr. Reisinger.

Acting First Lady

Following her mother's death in October 1892, Mary McKee served as her father's First Lady for the remainder of his term. He was defeated for re-election.

Family estrangement

As a widower, her father became romantically involved with his late wife's niece and secretary, young widow Mary Dimmick, who was 25 years younger than Benjamin Harrison, 27 days younger than Mary Harrison McKee, and was a first cousin of Benjamin's children.

Mary McKee and her brother opposed their father's relationship and remarriage. McKee became estranged from her father, and neither she nor her brother attended the Harrison-Dimmick wedding in 1896. McKee and her father never spoke again. She returned to Indianapolis in his final illness in March 1901, but arrived several hours after his death.

Later years

Mary McKee died at the age of 72 in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, as her parents had been. Her husband survived her, living independently in Greenwich, Connecticut, near their married daughter, Mary Lodge Reisinger, and her family. According to his note, James McKee was despondent because of failing health and required surgery; he committed suicide at age 84 in October 1942.

References

• Original text based on First Ladies: "Mary Harrison McKee", White House biography