During the Civil War he entered the Union Army as the rank of private, and by the end of the war was a brevet major of volunteers. Rutherford Hayes had been his commanding officer during the Civil War. While he was governor of Ohio one of his projects was the tax reform his stance on higher rates for big businesses gained him the working man's support. It was during his term that the 100 day's war with Spanish control over Cuba was concluded with it's liberation. It also brought the annexation the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. He was known for his honesty, thoroughness, and to keep calm under his presidency when there was turmoil about him. He was responsible for the tariff act of 1890, which made the rates higher and was named after him and was a highlight in his career. His unusual "front porch campaign," he greeted many voters to his Canton home.

On his re-election in 1901 he had up to that date received the largest popular majority vote partly due to the popularity of his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt. He also tried to have a strong trade policy with China in trying to improve relations and to help the Europeans put down the Boxer rebellion. His wife Ida never recovered from the loss of both her infant children as well as her mother all within a few year's span. He was standing in a line at the Buffalo in the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in September 1901 when he was shot by Leon Czolgosz twice and died eight days later.