William McKinley was an American.
The Tariff Act of 1890 , commonly called the McKinley Tariff , was an act of the United States Congress framed by Representative William McKinley that became law on October 1 , 1890 . The United States presidential election of 1900 was the 29th quadrennial presidential election , held on Tuesday , November 6 , 1900 . William McKinley Jr. ( January 29 , 1843 -- September 14 , 1901 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 25th President of the United States from March 4 , 1897 until his assassination in September 1901 , six months into his second term . As an innovator of American interventionism and pro-business sentiment , McKinley 's presidency is generally considered above average , though his universally positive public perception was soon overshadowed by Roosevelt .