Background
He was born near St. Petersburg, Illinois.
politician representative senator
He was born near St. Petersburg, Illinois.
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. University of Illinois system.
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 United States. House of Representatives in 1905, winning his first of four consecutive terms.
In 1913, he ran for the United States. Senate against Lawrence Yates Sherman and lost. 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), but died on December 7, 1926, aged 70, shortly before his term would have ended. McKinley was also chief executive of the Illinois Traction System.
The McKinley Bridge between Venice, Illinois and Street Louis, Missouri was named for him.
The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is also named for him.
