After taking the presidential oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, he gave a speech inside the Senate The Indiana Territory held elections to the legislature's upper and lower houses for the first time in 1809. [109], Clay was a leader of the Whigs and a powerful legislator, as well as a frustrated presidential candidate in his own right, and he expected to have substantial influence in the Harrison administration. WebAt 68 years, 23 days of age at the time of his inauguration, he was the oldest president-elect to take office until Ronald Reagan in 1981 . [19] The 26-room home was one of the first brick structures in the territory;[44] and it served as a center of social and political life in the territory during his tenure as governor. [37], Harrison was also instrumental in arranging the division of the Territory into two sections. ", "William Harrison: The American Franchise", "American TreasuresHarrison's Inauguration", "William Henry Harrison Inaugural Address", "William Harrison: March 4, 1841 Inaugural Address", "Letter from Harrison to R. Buchanan, Esq., March 10, 1841", "American History Series: The Brief Presidency of William Henry Harrison", "Pres. The traditional story is that his long inaugural speech led to a fatal pneumonia. William Henry Harrison is elected the ninth president of the United States, defeating President Martin Van Buren. [47], Harrison's primary responsibility was to obtain title to Indian lands that would allow future settlement and increase the territory's population, a requirement for statehood. [100][101] Expand. Harrison was the last president born as a British subject in the Thirteen Colonies and was the paternal grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States. William Henry Harrison resigns from the army and is appointed secretary of the Northwest Territory by President John Adams. He rambled on for one hour and 45 minutes, uttering 8,845 words. Harrison was assigned to Fort Washington in the small village of Cincinnati in the future Ohio Territory. [121], No official announcements were made concerning Harrison's illness, which fueled public speculation and concern the longer he remained out of public view. University of Kentucky, Copyright 2023. "[5] Harrison was a signatory of the Treaty of Greenville (1795), as witness to Wayne, the principal negotiator for the U.S.[12] Under the terms of the treaty, a coalition of Indians ceded a portion of their lands to the federal government, opening two-thirds of Ohio to settlement. William Henry Harrison is born at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, the youngest of seven children of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Elizabeth Bassett Harrison. [84], Local supporters had come to Harrison's relief, by appointing him Clerk of Courts for Hamilton County, where he worked from 1836 until 1840. Troops led by William Henry Harrison defeat Native Americans led by the Shawnee chief Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe near the Tippecanoe River in Indiana. Madison dragged his feet, and Harrison attempted to negotiate, sending a letter to Tecumseh saying, "Our Blue Coats (U.S. Army soldiers) are more numerous than you can count, and our hunting shirts (volunteer militiamen) are like the leaves of the forests or the grains of sand on the Wabash. On November 25, 1795, Harrison eloped with twenty-year-old Anna Tuthill Symmes, the well-educated daughter of John Cleves Symmes, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey who was one of southwestern Ohios biggest land speculators. He was a son of Benjamin Harrison V, a Founding Father of the United States. White ran in the remaining slave states except for South Carolina. [15][16], At his mother's death in 1793, Harrison inherited a portion of his family's Virginia estate, including approximately 3,000 acres (12km2) of land and several slaves. While standing at the threshold of this great work he has by the dispensation of an all-wise Providence been removed from amongst us, and by the provisions of the Constitution the efforts to be directed to the accomplishing of this vitally important task have devolved upon myself." [5][77] He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1824, and was an Ohio presidential elector in 1820 for James Monroe[78] and for Henry Clay in 1824. [5] He led an army north with 950 men to intimidate the Shawnee into making peace, but the tribes launched a surprise attack early on November 7 in the Battle of Tippecanoe. On March 24, he came down with a cold. [119] A team of doctors was called in Monday, March 29, and they confirmed right lower lobe pneumonia. His father, Benjamin Harrison, was long prominent in Virginia politics and became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1764, opposing Patrick Henrys Stamp Act resolutions in the following year. Harrison's significance in presidential history does not lie in his brief term in office, but rather in the innovative campaign techniques designed by his party to secure him the office. [119] At 4:00a.m. Sunday, March 28, Harrison developed severe pain in the side and the doctor initiated bloodletting; the procedure was terminated when there was a drop in his pulse rate. [55] In Indiana, the planting of the anti-slavery church led to citizens signing a petition and organizing politically to defeat Harrison's efforts to legalize slavery in the territory.[55]. As a slaveholder himself, he agreed with the right of states to control the matter: The lines, too, separating powers to be exercised by the citizens of one state from those of another seem to be so distinctly drawn as to leave no room for misunderstandingThe attempt of those of one state to control the domestic institutions of another can only result in feelings of distrust and jealousy, the certain harbingers of disunion, violence, and civil war, and the ultimate destruction of our free institutions.[106]. [5], In addition to resulting tensions with the Indians, Harrison's pro-slavery position made him unpopular with the Indiana Territory's abolitionists, as he tried in vain to encourage slavery in the territory. I ask nothing more.. [154][155], Equestrian statue of Harrison in Cincinnati, by Louis Rebisso, 1950 issue of Harrison on Indiana statehood stamp. It left the former struck by Harrison's "deeply imbued principles of liberty". But his tenure was short. Just three weeks after his inauguration, Harrison fell ill and died days later. Harrison was hailed as a hero in the Battle of Tippecanoe and became known as Old Tippecanoe.. At first Harrison took no part in these raucous rallies. In May 1814, however, he resigned his commission in a dispute with Secretary of War John Armstrong Jr. As a war hero, Harrison won election from Ohio to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1816. Instead, in May 1800, Adams appointed Harrison governor of the newly created Indiana Territory, which comprised, until 1809, a much larger area than the present state of Indiana. [144], Harrison's son John Scott Harrison represented Ohio in the House of Representatives between 1853 and 1857. WebWilliam Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States.Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, the shortest presidency in United States history. William Henry Harrison had the longest inaugural address at 8,460 words and took one hour and 45 minutes to deliver. Harrison wrote at the time, "we might look forward to a day when a North American sun would not look down upon a slave. [21], Anna was frequently in poor health during the marriage, primarily because of her many pregnancies, yet she outlived William by 23 years, dying on February 25, 1864, at 88. He developed an interest in military history, especially Roman military history. Clair. For a few months after the division in 1804 of the Louisiana Purchase into the Orleans Territory and the Louisiana Territory, Harrison also acted as governor of the Louisiana Territory (all of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 33rd parallel), the largest jurisdiction ever exercised by a territorial official in the United States to that date. Although the Whig Party was in the minority in Illinios, Lincoln agreed with its policies and supported the party's Some of Harrisons grown children lived in his house; one grandson born there was Benjamin Harrison, who in 1889 became the twenty-third president of the United States. Early on the morning of November 7, 1811, the Indians attacked Harrisons camp, but his troops prevailed and burned down Prophetstown. A few months after the War of 1812 broke out with Great Britain, Harrison was made a brigadier general and placed in command of all federal forces in the Northwest Territory. His sole concession to Clay was to name his protg John J. Crittenden to the post of Attorney General. With his offensive operations having been thus checked, Harrison accomplished nothing that summer except to hold in check Procter, who besieged him at Fort Meigs (May 15), the American advance post after the disaster at the River Raisin. After Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perrys naval victory in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, Harrison no longer had to remain on the defensive. [59] Tecumseh then began shouting at Harrison and called him a liar. Doctors were called in, but their medical practices were crude: heated suction cups to supposedly draw out the disease, and the same bleeding tactics that had killed George Washington. Corrections? [43], In 1805, Harrison built a plantation-style home near Vincennes that he named Grouseland, in tribute to the birds on the property. Indian resistance to American expansion came to a head, with the leadership of Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa ("The Prophet"), in a conflict that became known as Tecumseh's War. [32] He campaigned to encourage further migration to the territory, which eventually led to statehood. [2] His father also served in the Virginia legislature and as the fifth governor of Virginia (17811784) in the years during and after the American Revolutionary War. Brief Summary of William Henry Harrison Voter turnout shot to a spectacular 80%, 20 points higher than the previous election. Burr references M. Chavalier, who encountered Harrison in Cincinnati at this time, and described Harrison as "poor, with a numerous family, abandoned by the Federal government, yet vigorous with independent thinking". Soon thereafter, funds were cut off for Harrisons schooling, and at age eighteen he joined the First Infantry of the U.S. Army as an ensign after receiving a recommendation from Virginia governor Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee. Harrison named his cabinet and called for Congress to return on May 31 for a special session. [111], Clay was not the only one who hoped to benefit from Harrison's election. [119] According to papers in Washington on Friday, Harrison had rallied, despite a Baltimore Sun report that his condition was of a "more dangerous character". 2020 Virginia Humanities, All Rights Reserved , Native Lands Appropriated for White Settlement in the Northwest Territory. [49] The Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809) raised new tensions when Harrison purchased more than 2.5million acres (10,000km2) from the Potawatomi, Delaware, Miami, and Eel River tribes. WebOn March 4, 1841, President William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural speech in American history. [137], Among Harrison's most enduring legacies is the series of treaties that he negotiated and signed with Indian leaders during his tenure as the Indiana territorial governor. WebAt age sixty-eight, Harrison was the oldest President elected in his century. Additionally, and FYI, Harrison's inaugural speech was the longest in history, to date. Returning to military service, Harrison commanded a force of seasoned regulars and militia that defeated the Indians led by the Prophet at the Battle of Tippecanoe (November 7, 1811), near present-day Lafayette, Indiana, a victory that largely established his military reputation in the public mind. In 1798 Pres. Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, in Charles City County, the youngest of seven children of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett Harrison. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served from October 1816, to March 3, 1819, when he was elected to the Ohio Senate (18191821). President James Madison removed Winchester from command in September, and Harrison became commander of the fresh recruits. [10] He briefly studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania with Doctor Benjamin Rush and William Shippen Sr.[10] His older brother inherited their father's money, so he lacked the funds for his further medical schooling, which he had also discovered he didn't prefer. [79], Harrison was appointed in 1828 as minister plenipotentiary to Gran Colombia, so he resigned from Congress and served in his new post until March 8, 1829. William Henry Harrison was inaugurated as the ninth president of the United States on March 4, 1841, but died thirty-one days later, making him the shortest-serving U.S. president. [5] Tecumseh informed Harrison that he had threatened to kill the chiefs who signed the treaty if they carried out its terms and that his confederation of tribes was growing rapidly. For nearly two hours, Harrison addressed the crowd. [119] The doctor then gave him castor oil and medicines to induce vomiting, and diagnosed him with pneumonia in the right lung. "[87] DeBaptiste became his valet, and later White House steward. [5] He was elected in 1816 to complete John McLean's term in the House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 1st congressional district until 1819. He did give the longest inaugural speech ever one hour and 45 minutes. [17] Harrison was promoted to captain in May 1797 and resigned from the Army on June 1, 1798. [11], On August 16, 1791, within 24 hours of meeting Lee, Harrison, age 18, was commissioned as an ensign in the Army and assigned to the First American Regiment. Henry Clay was favored, but Harrison had supporters at the convention. On January 26, 1841, Harrison left Cincinnati for the March 4 inauguration in Washington, D.C. He is the youngest man to hold the office to date and the first vice president to assume office after a president's death. They move into a log cabin on the Ohio River near Cincinnati. A rope was brought, and attached to the carriage, by which the people drew it to the Marshall House. "[112] U.S. Anna never moved into the White House. Miller applied mustard plaster to his stomach and gave him a mild laxative, and he felt better that afternoon. [103], Harrison wrote in a letter dated March 10, "I am so much harassed by the multitude that calls upon me that I can give no proper attention to any business of my own. [135] The cabinet consulted with Chief Justice Roger Taney and decided that, if Tyler took the presidential oath of office, he would assume the office of president. (White House Historical Association) It is unlikely, however, that the long-winded speech caused the presidents [2][6] He studied there for three years, receiving a classical education that included Latin, Greek, French, logic, and debate. But Matt he has the golden plate, and he's a little squirt: wirt-wirt! In 1800, Adams appointed Harrison governor of the new Indiana Territory, the first territory to be carved from the Northwest Territory. In the end, Harrison came in second, and carried nine of the twenty-six states in the Union. A 30-day period of mourning commenced following the president's death. [83], In May of 1817, Harrison served as one of the founding vestry members of the Episcopal congregation, Christ Church in downtown Cincinnati (now Christ Church Cathedral). William Henry Harrison is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio. Harrison took part in the campaign that ended in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (August 20, 1794), near present-day Maumee, Ohio. Harrison becomes known as Old Tippecanoe.. In 1799, he was elected as the territory's non-voting delegate in the United States House of Representatives. Harrison rebuffed his aggression, saying, "Mr. Clay, you forget that I am the President. Many of them began to pull their weapons, representing a substantial threat to Harrison and the town, which held a population of only 1,000. In response, Bolvar wrote that the United States "seem destined by Providence to plague America with torments in the name of freedom", a sentiment that achieved fame in Latin America.[80]. WebAn illustrated chronology of key events in the life of William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), ninth president of the United States. Harrison launched a successful counterattack after Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry defeated British ships on nearby Lake Erie and sent Harrison the famous dispatch: We have met the enemy, and they are ours. On October 5, 1813, Harrison defeated retreating British and Native American forces at the Thames River in what is now the province of Ontario. [59] Harrison said that the individual tribes were the owners of the land and could sell it as they wished. [90] He was chosen over more controversial members of the party, such as Clay and Webster; his campaign highlighted his military record and focused on the weak U.S. economy caused by the Panic of 1837. While Tecumseh was away recruiting allies, Harrison led approximately 1,000 troops to attack the settlement, camping a short distance from Prophetstown. With his homespun image in mind, he left his silk hat at home and wore his farmers clothes. He became governor of the newly established Indiana Territory in 1801 and negotiated multiple treaties with American Indian tribes, with the nation acquiring millions of acres. Sworn into office as president of the U.S. While serving in this capacity, he devised a plan for distributing public lands to settlers and also assisted in the division of the Northwest Territory. Virginia Humanities acknowledges the Monacan Nation, the original people of the land and waters of our home in Charlottesville, Virginia. General James Winchester offered Harrison the rank of brigadier general, but Harrison wanted sole command of the army. On March 4, 1841, without coat, hat or gloves, Virginia-born William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inauguration speech in United States history. But he was far from young now, and when he followed the address with a round of receptions in his wet clothing, it resulted in a bad chill. [52] Though Harrison asserted that the suspension was necessary to promote settlement and make the territory economically viable and ready for statehood, the proposal failed. In an address to the Hamilton County Agricultural Board in 1831, he said that he had sinned in making whiskey and hoped that others would learn from his mistake and stop the production of liquors. [22] The match was advantageous for Harrison, as he eventually exploited his father-in-law's connections with land speculators, which facilitated his departure from the army. [51] Biographer Freehling asserts that the Indians perceived the ownership of land was as common to all, just as the air that is breathed. The White House hosted various public ceremonies, modeled after European royal funeral practices. It continues See full answer below. [123], The prevailing theory at the time was that his illness had been caused by the bad weather at his inauguration three weeks earlier. . Upon him you had conferred your suffrages for the first office in your gift, and had selected him as your chosen instrument to correct and reform all such errors and abuses as had manifested themselves from time to time in the practical operation of the Government. Gen. James Winchester, whom Harrison had ordered to prepare to cross Lake Erie on the ice and surprise Fort Maiden, turned back to rescue the threatened American settlement at Frenchtown (now Monroe, Michigan), on the River Raisin, and there on January 22, 1813, was forced to surrender to Col. Henry A. Procter. He was the first president-elect to arrive in the capital by train. She was less-than-happy about the prospect. Democrats mocked him as General Mum and said the Whigs were keeping their aged candidate locked in an Iron Cage. Then Harrison accepted an invitation to speak at a celebration of the siege at Fort Meigs.

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