William Jennings Bryan

Date of Birth: March 19, 1860

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: July 26, 1925

Biography

William Jennings Bryan was an American lawyer, orator, and politician, born on March 19, 1860, in Salem, Illinois. He became one of the most influential figures of the Democratic Party in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bryan was renowned for his powerful speeches and his fervent advocacy for populism, which led to his nickname “The Great Commoner.” Bryan graduated from Illinois College in 1881 and studied law at Union Law College in Chicago, later becoming a practicing attorney in Jacksonville, Illinois. He entered politics in the early 1890s and quickly rose to prominence, serving as a U.S. Representative from Nebraska from 1891 to 1895. He gained national fame for his “Cross of Gold” speech at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, which advocated for free silver and criticized the gold standard. This speech secured him the Democratic nomination for President in 1896, a position he would also hold in 1900 and 1908, though he was unsuccessful in all three attempts. Bryan served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915, a tenure marked by his pacifist stance during World War I. He resigned in protest against Wilson’s policies that he felt would lead the United States into the war. In his later years, Bryan became a leading figure in the anti-evolution movement, famously participating in the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 as a prosecutor against John T. Scopes, who was accused of teaching evolution in a Tennessee public school. William Jennings Bryan passed away on July 26, 1925, just five days after the conclusion of the Scopes Trial.

5 Interesting Facts about William Jennings Bryan

1. William Jennings Bryan ran for President of the United States three times but was never elected.

2. He was known as “The Great Commoner” due to his advocacy for the common people.

3. Bryan was a staunch opponent of the gold standard and a vocal advocate for the free silver movement.

4. He served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson but resigned over disagreements regarding U.S. policies leading up to World War I.

5. Bryan was a key figure in the Scopes Monkey Trial, where he argued against the teaching of evolution in schools.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from William Jennings Bryan

1. “The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.”

2. “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.”

3. “No one can earn a million dollars honestly.”

4. “The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error.”

5. “If the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

William Jennings Bryan’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but it is generally considered that he was not wealthy by modern standards. His career was driven more by his passion for public service and advocacy rather than financial gain.

Children

William Jennings Bryan and his wife, Mary Baird Bryan, had three children: 1. Ruth Bryan Owen – She became the first woman elected to Congress from Florida and later served as a U.S. ambassador. 2. William Jennings Bryan Jr. – He followed in his father’s footsteps to become a lawyer. 3. Grace Bryan – She led a more private life compared to her siblings.