McKinley, William (1843-1901) William McKinley was born in Ohio. He attended Allegheny college and fought for the Union in the Civil War, after which he established a law office in Canton, Ohio. He served fourteen years in the House of Representatives followed by two terms as governor of Ohio. McKinley was then elected the twenty-fifth President of the United States in 1896. His presidency is remembered for the enactment of high tariffs and for the Spanish-American War during which the United States both aided Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence from Spain and also took possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, all of which had been Spanish colonies. McKinley was assassinated in September of 1901 shortly after beginning his second term as President.