Henry harrison lewis indiana biography sample

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Early Life

William Henry Harrison was born into an influential political family on February 9, 1773, in Charles City County, Virginia. Harrison's father was a wealthy Virginia planter who signed the Declaration of Independence and later became governor of Virginia.

Mentored by "Mad" Anthony Wayne

Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney College and studied classics and history. He next moved to Richmond to study medicine. In 1791, after the death of his father, Harrison stopped studying medicine and joined the US Army. He was sent to the Northwest Territory (present-day Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois), where he served as an aide to 'Mad' Anthony Wayne. Under Wayne, Harrison learned how to command an army of frontier soldiers.

The Battle of Tippecanoe

In 1798, Harrison resigned from the US Army and became Secretary of the Northwest Territory. In 1799, Harrison was elected as a delegate representing the Northwest Territory in Congress. After helping to gain passage of the Harrison Land Act, which made it easier for settlers to buy land in the Northwest Territory, Harrison resigned as a delegate from Congress and became governor of the Northwest Territory. As governor, Harrison secured a vast expanse of land at the exp

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Tomb of William Henry Harrison in North Bend, Ohio, near Cincinnati. Courtesy Ohio Historical Society.

I am drunk this evening in 1961,
In a jag for my countryman,
Who died of crab meat on the way back from Alaska,
Everyone knows that joke. 

James Wright’s great work, “Two Poems About President Harding,” perfectly captures our relationship with some of our deceased presidents. A tremendous outpouring of grief turns to embarrassment:

His grave, a huge absurdity,
Embarrassed cops and visitors,
Hoover and Coolidge crept away
By night, and women closed their doors.

Once the man bestrode the political scene like a colossus. Now obscurity overtakes him. Finally he is forgotten:

America goes on, goes on
Laughing, and Harding was a fool.
Even his big pretentious stone
Lays him bare to ridicule.
I know it. But don’t look at me.
By God, I didn’t start this mess.
Whatever moon and rain may be,
The hearts of men are merciless.

William Henry Harrison, by Rembrandt Peale

Perhaps of all our presidents who died in office, William Henry Harrison had the most absurd death, expiring from a cold he contracted at his own inauguration after just a month in office. (Zachary Taylor, who died from medical malpractice after falling ill fro

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William Henry Harrison

President of interpretation United States in 1841

"William H. Harrison" redirects in attendance. For else people, sway William President and William Henry Thespian (disambiguation).

William Henry Harrison
Portrait 1835
In office March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841
Vice President	John Tyler
Preceded by	Martin Precursor Buren
Succeeded by	John Tyler
In office February 5, 1829 – September 26, 1829
President
Preceded by	Beaufort Taylor Watts
Succeeded by	Thomas Apostle Moore
In office March 4, 1825 – May 20, 1828
Preceded by	Ethan Allen Brown
Succeeded by	Jacob Burnet
In office December 5, 1819 – December 2, 1821
Preceded by	Ephraim Brown
Succeeded by	Ephraim Brown
In office October 8, 1816 – March 3, 1819
Preceded by	John McLean
Succeeded by	Thomas R. Ross
In office January 10, 1801 – December 28, 1812
Appointed by	John Adams
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Thomas Posey
In office October 3, 1799 – May 14, 1800
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	William McMillan
In office June 28, 1798 – October 1, 1799
Governor	Arthur Specialty. Clair
Preceded by	Winthrop Sargent
Suc