- Attended Northwestern University School of Law.
- Pictured on a $2 US definitive postage stamp in the Great Americans series, issued 19 March 1986.
- U.S. secretary of state from 5 March 1913 to 9 June 1915; he resigned from office.
- Democratic nominee for president of the United States in 1896, 1900 and 1908.
- He was brought in as the prosecuting attorney in the renowned "Scopes Monkey Trial" in Tennessee in 1925, and as such was the basis of the character Matthew Harrison Brady in the play and various film and TV versions of Inherit the Wind (1960).
- Democratic U.S. representative from Nebraska, 4 March 1891 - 3 March 1895; he was not a candidate for reelection in 1894.
- Brother of Gov. Charles W. Bryan of Nebraska, who ran for vice president in 1924 with John Davis as the presidential candidate.
- Father of Congresswoman Ruth Bryan Owen.
- While serving as the secretary of state, he invited Switzerland to send its navy to the opening of the Panama Canal.
- Grandfather of the actor John Bryan.
- Was the basis for the title character in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.".
- Inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame for 1969-1970.
- Tied with Henry Clay for being a major presidential candidate the most times (three) without ever winning the presidency.
- At age 36 in 1896, he is the youngest person to be nominated by a major American party for president.
- He was known to be a dynamic public speaker by historians. He also made use of the new railroad systems and traveled across the country giving speeches in front of thousands of people, and is regarded as the first presidential candidate to extensively campaign.
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