Mary Harrison McKee

Mary McKee
First Lady of the United States De facto
In role October 25, 1892 – March 4, 1893
President	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	Caroline Harrison
Succeeded by	Frances Cleveland
Personal details
Born	April 3, 1858 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died	October 28, 1930 (aged 72) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Spouse(s)	James McKee
Children	Benjamin Mary

Mary Scott Harrison McKee (April 3, 1858 – October 28, 1930) was the only daughter of President Benjamin Harrison and his wife Caroline Scott Harrison. After her mother died in 1892, McKee served as her father's de facto First Lady for the remainder of his term.

Married and 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, Indiana and was educated in public schools.

Marriage and family

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.^[1]

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

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, the young widow Mary Lord Dimmick. She was 25 years younger than Harrison and was a first cousin of his 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. She was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, as her parents were.

Her husband survived her, living independently in Greenwich, Connecticut, near their married daughter and her family. According to his note, McKee was despondent because of failing health and required surgery; he committed suicide at age 84 in October 1942.^[1]

Legacy and honors

• Mary McKee is the most recent First Lady of the United States who was not married to the sitting president.

References

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

1. "James R. McKee Ends his Life at 84", New York Times, 21 October 1942, accessed 5 August 2012