Background
Tillman, Benjamin Ryan was born on August 11, 1847 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. Son of Benjamin R. T., a planter.
Tillman, Benjamin Ryan was born on August 11, 1847 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. Son of Benjamin R. T., a planter.
Academic education; joined C.S.A., July 1864, but was stricken with severe illness which caused the loss of his left eye and kept him an invalid for 2 years, so that he saw no military service.
Followed farming as sole pursuit until 1886, when he became prominent in an agitation for industrial and technical education and other reforms. Elected governor of South Carolina. in 1890 and 1892, and United States senator for 4 terms, 1895-1919. Founded Clemson Agricultural and Mechanics
College at Calhoun’s old home, Fort Hill, and also Winthrop Normal and Industrial College at Rock Hill.
The first for boys, the last for girls. They are the two largest schools of the kind in the South.
Author of the dispensary system of selling liquor under state control. Central figure in the South Carolina.
Constitutional Convention, 1895, which instituted educational qualification for suffrage.
One of the leaders in securing the insertion of advanced positions in Democratic platform of 1896. Prominent in Democratic National conversations of 1900 and 1904, and in latter was active in work of harmonizing contending factions of Democracy.
Member Democratic National Committee, since 1912.
Married Sallie Starke, 1868.