http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley See pictures from the life and presidency of William McKinley en Copyright 2013, History.com Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-22T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo1 William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, to a devout Methodist family in the small town of Niles, Ohio http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo2 McKinley fought bravely as a Union infantryman in the Civil War. After the war, McKinley passed the bar and practiced law in Ohio. He served as a member of Congress from 1877 to 1890. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo3 Ida Saxton married William McKinley in 1871. They raised a daughter, Katherine, born in 1871. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo4 His congressional career ended with his conception of the unpopular "McKinley tariff," which set import tax rates at 50 percent. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo5 In 1897, McKinley became America's 25th president. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo6 The Spanish-American War began on April 25, 1898, following an explosion on the American battleship USS Maine in Cuba the previous February that killed 266 American servicemen. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo7 Though the Spanish were never proven to be responsible for the explosion, American newspapers pounced on the episode to drum up support for U.S. intervention in Spain's colonial affairs. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo8 After only four months of fighting, the United States gained control of Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba and the Philippines. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo9 With the Spanish-American War, America embarked on an age of "New Imperialism." http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo10 McKinley also left his imprint on the American economy through his initiation of the trust-busting era. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo11 Despite this setback, McKinley won back public support, becoming governor of Ohio in 1891 and running for the presidency in 1896. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo12 McKinley's commission ultimately contributed to the dismantling of the country's largest trusts: the Standard Oil Company and J. P. Morgan's Northern Securities Corporation. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo13 For his reelection campaign, McKinley picked Teddy Roosevelt as his Vice President http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo13 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo14 McKinley won re-election to a second term. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo14 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo15 He urged Congress to appoint the U.S. Industrial Commission of 1899-1902 to investigate corruption and greed in railroad-pricing policy, industrial monopolies and the impact of immigration on labor markets. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo15 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo16 On September 6, 1901, anarchist Leon Czolgosz approached McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, and shot the president twice at point-blank range. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo16 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo17 The mortally wounded president lingered for a week, finally succumbing to blood poisoning on September 14. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo17 http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo18 Jurors pronounced Czolgosz guilty and sentenced him to death by electrocution on October 29, 1901. http://www.history.com/photos/william-mckinley/photo18