William Henry Harrison was the 9th President of the United States. He is most often remembered as the President who served for only one month in office, from March 4 to April 4, 1841. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison became the 23rd President of the United States.
Early Life
Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, on the Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. His father, Benjamin Harrison was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He studied classics and history at Hampden-Sydney College, and then briefly studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His formal education ended when his father died, and he joined the Army.
For eight years, Harrison fought in the Indian Wars of the Northwest Territory. He moved through the ranks and became a captain. When he was 22 years old, he married Anna Tuthill Symmes and they had 10 children.
Political Career
When Harrison resigned from the Army in 1798, he became Secretary of the Northwest Territory and then the Territory’s first congressional delegate. He helped pass legislation dividing the Northwest and Indian Territories. Starting in 1801, he served 12 years as Governor of the Indiana Territory. He became famous for his role in the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.
Harrison later served as a U.S. Congressman, an Ohio State Senator, a U.S. Senator and a minister to Colombia.
Presidency
Harrison was the Whig party candidate in the 1840 election. He and his vice presidential running mate, John Tyler used the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!” During his inaugural speech, he promised to be obedient to the will of the people. The day was cold and rainy, and he came down with pneumonia. He was the first president to die in office.
