CLEVELAND, GROVER, an Ameri can statesman; twice President of the United States; born in Caldwell, Essex co., N. J., March 18, 1837; son of a Pres byterian clergyman. He studied law, settled in Buffalo, and in 1863 became assistant district attorney of Erie county, N. Y. After becoming in succession sheriff and mayor of Buffalo, he was chosen governor of New York in 1882. In 1884 he received the Democratic nom ination for the Presidency, and was elected, defeating James G. Blaine. He was renominated in June, 1888, but was defeated by Benjamin Harrison, Nov. 6 following. After a successful law prac tice of four years he was again nomi nated by the Democratic National Con vention of 1892, in spite of the opposition of the delegation from his own State, and elected by very large majorities. Some of the measures of his administra tion were: The settlement of the Vene zuelan boundary question with Great Britain; the consolidating of postoffices in large centers so as to increase the scope of the civil-service rules; and most notably the conclusion in January, 1897, of a general arbitration treaty with Great Britain, which, however, was re jected by the Senate. Possessed of great
independence of character and persist ence in carrying out policies once deter mined upon, he often aroused criticism and hostility in the ranks of his own party. On the other hand, these quali ties won him admiration in many quar ters. During 1896-1897 he maintained an attitude of friendliness for Spain in the midst of great popular clamor in be half of the Cuban cause, offering the friendly services of the United States in his last annual message, in composing the differences between Spain and Cuba on a basis of home rule. After his re tirement from the Presidency he lived at Princeton, N. J. He was made a trustee of Princeton University, where he lec tured at times. Some of his lectures formed the basis of his book, "Presiden tial Problems" (1904). He died June 24, 1908.