William Henry Harrison – 9th President – Legends of America
Okay, history buffs and casual readers alike, let’s dive into the story of William Henry Harrison. You might know him as the guy with the super-long inauguration speech and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it presidency. Seriously, he was only in office for about a month. But there’s way more to Harrison than just a historical footnote.
From British Subject to American Hero (Sort Of)
Here’s a fun fact: Harrison was the last president born when America was still a bunch of British colonies. He came into the world on February 9, 1773, at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. His parents were Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett Harrison.
Now, the Harrisons were kind of a big deal. They were one of those families that had been in Virginia since, like, the 1630s. His dad, Benjamin, was a real mover and shaker. He was a planter, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and even signed the Declaration of Independence. Talk about a resume! He also served as the governor of Virginia during and after the Revolutionary War. So, yeah, young William was born into a family with some serious political clout.
School Days and a Change of Heart
William got his early education at home, as was the style back then. When he turned 14, he went off to Hampden–Sydney College, a Presbyterian school in Virginia. For three years, he got a solid education in the classics: Latin, Greek, French, you name it. He also learned about logic, history, and how to debate. Sounds pretty intense, right?
But then things took a turn. His dad, who was Episcopalian, pulled him out of college. Some people think it was because of religious differences. After a short stint at another school, William headed to Philadelphia in 1790 with his older brother, Benjamin.
In 1791, tragedy struck: William’s father passed away. He was put under the care of Robert Morris, a family friend. William started studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, but money became tight when his brother inherited the family fortune. So, the whole doctor thing was off the table.
From Medicine to Military: A Career Shift
But Harrison wasn’t one to sit around feeling sorry for himself. He decided to go in a completely different direction: the military. Thanks to his dad’s connections (specifically, a recommendation from Governor Henry Lee III), he got a commission as an ensign in the First Infantry of the Regular Army. And just like that, he was off to the Northwest, where he’d spend a good chunk of his life.
"Mad" Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Early in his military career, Harrison became an aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne. Wayne was a pretty colorful character, earning the nickname "Mad Anthony" for his, shall we say, enthusiastic approach to warfare. Harrison served under Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
This battle was a big deal. It was a decisive victory for the Americans in the Northwest Indian War. It basically opened up most of Ohio to settlement, which was great for the settlers but not so great for the Native Americans who already lived there.
Love, Elopement, and a Sword
In 1795, while stationed in the Northwest, Harrison met Anna Tuthill Symmes. She was the daughter of Judge John Cleves Symmes, a Revolutionary War vet and a representative to the Congress of the Confederation. Harrison was smitten, but the judge wasn’t exactly thrilled about the match.
When Harrison asked for permission to marry Anna, the judge said no. But love knows no bounds, right? So, when Judge Symmes left town on business, Harrison and Anna eloped and got married on November 25, 1795. They even honeymooned at Fort Washington because Harrison was still on active duty!
Two weeks later, Judge Symmes confronted Harrison at a dinner party. He demanded to know how Harrison planned to support a family. Harrison, not missing a beat, replied, "By my sword and my own right arm, sir." Talk about a mic-drop moment! The couple went on to have ten children together.
Governor Harrison: Land Deals and Conflict
In 1798, Harrison left the Army and became the Secretary of the Northwest Territory. A year later, he was elected as the territory’s first delegate to Congress. He helped pass legislation that divided the territory into the Northwest and Indiana Territories. In 1801, he became the governor of the Indiana Territory.
As governor, Harrison’s main job was to represent the interests of both the new settlers and the Native Americans already living there. But here’s the thing: those interests were often in direct conflict. Harrison was responsible for negotiating treaties with Native American tribes, and he ended up acquiring millions of acres of land for the United States.
In 1809 alone, he seized two million acres along the Wabash River, land that would become part of Indiana and Illinois. This opened the door for more settlers to move into the area. Of course, the Native Americans weren’t exactly thrilled about this, and tensions started to rise.
Tecumseh and the Prophet: A Growing Threat
By 1809, the situation was getting serious. A Shawnee chief named Tecumseh and his brother, known as the Prophet, began building a confederation of tribes to resist further American expansion. Tecumseh was a powerful speaker and a charismatic leader, and he managed to unite many different tribes under a common cause.
The Battle of Tippecanoe: A Stepping Stone to Fame
In 1811, Harrison got the green light to attack Tecumseh’s confederacy. While Tecumseh was away trying to recruit more allies, Harrison led about 1,000 men toward the Prophet’s town. On November 7, 1811, the Native Americans attacked Harrison’s camp on the Tippecanoe River in present-day Indiana.
The battle was fierce, and both sides suffered heavy losses. In the end, Harrison managed to repel the attack, but he lost 190 men. The Battle of Tippecanoe was a major victory for Harrison, and it made him a national hero.
The War of 1812 and the Death of Tecumseh
The War of 1812 brought even more opportunities for Harrison to shine. He was promoted to brigadier general in the Army. At the Battle of the Thames in 1813, he defeated a combined British and Native American force and killed Tecumseh. With Tecumseh gone, the Native American resistance in the Northwest collapsed.
From Governor to President: A Long and Winding Road
After serving as governor for 12 years, Harrison returned to civilian life in Ohio. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1816 and to the U.S. Senate in 1824. In 1828, he was appointed as Minister Plenipotentiary to Gran Colombia.
In 1836, the Whig Party nominated Harrison for president. He lost to Martin Van Buren. But four years later, they gave it another shot, with John Tyler as his running mate. Their campaign slogan was "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" It was catchy, to say the least.
Harrison defeated Van Buren in the 1840 election, becoming the first Whig president. He won by a relatively narrow margin in the popular vote, but he crushed Van Buren in the Electoral College.
A Brief Presidency and a Sudden End
When Harrison arrived in Washington in February 1841, he was ready to get to work. He let Daniel Webster edit his Inaugural Address. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse.
Harrison caught a cold that turned into pneumonia. He died on April 4, 1841, just 31 days after his inauguration. He was the first president to die in office, and his presidency was the shortest in U.S. history.
His death triggered a brief constitutional crisis. The Constitution didn’t clearly spell out what happened when a president died in office. Eventually, Vice President John Tyler stepped up and became president.
Harrison was initially buried in Washington, D.C., but his remains were later moved to North Bend, Ohio. The William Henry Harrison Tomb State Memorial is his final resting place.
A Presidential Legacy
William Henry Harrison’s presidency may have been short, but he left his mark on American history. He was a military hero, a governor, a senator, and a president. And, oh yeah, he was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States. Talk about keeping it in the family!