Hanna, Mark (1837-1904), an American politician and businessman, became known for managing the political campaigns of William McKinley. As chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1896, Hanna persuaded business leaders to contribute large amounts of money to McKinley’s campaign that year for president of the United States. McKinley won the election.
Hanna was elected a U.S. senator from Ohio in 1897. As a senator, he helped achieve the peaceful resolution of labor disputes, especially in the coal industry. He urged business leaders to recognize and negotiate with labor unions.
As a conservative Republican, Hanna did not support many of the progressive ideas of Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican who succeeded McKinley as president in 1901. Some conservatives promoted Hanna as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1904. But his death that year ended their efforts.
Marcus Alonzo Hanna was born in New Lisbon (now Lisbon), Ohio. He made a fortune in business before turning to politics in the 1880’s.
