| Birth: | Feb. 9, 1773
Charles City
Virginia, USA | | Death: | Apr. 4, 1841
Washington
District Of Columbia, USA | 
9th United States President. He was first to die in office, and served the shortest time: one month. He was also the Whig party's first successful candidate, elected largely due to his Indian fighting exploits at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Harrison was the first to actively campaign for the presidency and his campaign was the first to have a slogan - "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too." He gave the longest inaugural address at 8,445 words or 90 minutes. Despite his 1840 campaign image as a hard cider-swilling frontiersman seated on a "buckeye bench" in his log cabin, Harrison was born on the James River in Charles County, Virginia, to a wealthy, politically prominent family. (His father, Benjamin, signed the Declaration of Independence, and his grandson, Benjamin, became 23rd president in 1889.) Although he had medical aspirations, Harrison in 1791 began eight years with the U.S. Army, including a stint under Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne. He became secretary of the Northwest Territory and became its delegate to Congress. Harrison made his first big mark in 1798, becoming governor of the Indiana Territory for 12 years. He opened up the territory's vast land to American settlers by defeating Indian tribes and acquiring acreage cheaply. (One deal got 51 million acres of land for the United States at 200 acres a penny.) Harrison's greatest fame came when he led 950 men to defeat Shawnee Chief Tecumseh's 650 braves at the Battle of Tippecanonoe on Nov. 7, 1811. (That led to his nickname, "Old Tip.") During the War of 1812, Major General Harrison would recapture Detroit and later kill Tecumseh at the Battle of Thames River. After the war, Harrison served in the House of Representatives, the Ohio State Senate, U.S. Senate, and as minister to Colombia. He was defeated in 1836 by Democratic Vice President Martin Van Buren for the presidency. After four years of spirited campaigning, however, courting party leaders and veterans, Harrison beat Van Buren, largely due to poor economic times. (His advisers also advised him to hide his staunch pro-slavery views.) Until Ronald Reagan, Harrison at 68 would be the oldest man sworn in as president. He became ill after delivering his lengthy inaugural address and riding in his parade in the cold, rainy weather with no hat or outer coat. Also worn down by office seekers, Harrison caught pneumonia and died in the Executive Mansion. His wife of 45 years, Anna Tuthill Symmes, the mother of their children, would survive her husband by 23 years. Ironically, Harrison had promised in his inaugural address he would not serve a second term. (bio by: LincolnFan)
Family links:
Parents:
Benjamin Harrison (1726 - 1791)
Elizabeth Bassett Harrison (1730 - 1792)
Spouse:
Anna Symmes Harrison (1775 - 1864)
Children:
Elizabeth Bassett Harrison Short (1796 - 1846)*
John Cleves Symmes Harrison (1798 - 1830)*
Lucy Singleton Harrison (1800 - 1826)*
William Henry Harrison (1802 - 1838)*
John Scott Harrison (1804 - 1878)*
Benjamin Harrison (1806 - 1840)*
Mary Symmes Harrison (1809 - 1842)*
Carter Bassett Harrison (1811 - 1839)*
Anna Tuthill Harrison Taylor (1813 - 1865)*
James Findlay Harrison (1814 - 1817)*
*Calculated relationship
Search Amazon for William Harrison | | | Burial:
William Henry Harrison Memorial
North Bend
Hamilton County
Ohio, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 01, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 452 |
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KID0FTHE80S
Added: May. 18, 2013 |
God bless you on Armed Forces Day (early). Rest in Peace.
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Richard S. Barzelogna
Added: May. 17, 2013 |
Dear Mr. President: I love Virginia also! I like your memorial. It is very beautiful. Nanotechnology will bring your mummified body back to life. I am like a guardian angel and enjoyed reading your history. Mike
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Michael Pearson
Added: May. 13, 2013 |
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(4.4 after 239 votes)
