Sidebar

William Henry Harrison

NAME: William Henry Harrison

BORN: February 9, 1773

PARENTS:

Benjamin Harrison (signed Declaration of Independence)
and Elizabeth Bassett Harrison

COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS:

(born, Berkeley, Virgina) 
settled on farm in North Bend, Ohio (Hamilton County) after the War of 1812.

EDUCATION:

attended, Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, VA) 
but did not graduate, studied medicine.

OCCUPATION:

Soldier (attained rank of Major General)
Territorial Governor of Indiana (1800-1813)
US House of Representatives (Ohio, 1816 -1819)
Ohio senate (1819 -1821)
United States Senate (Ohio, 1825 - 1828)

President of the United States
March 4, 1841 - April 4, 1841 (died in office)
(part of one term, Whig)
9th President

DIED: April 4, 1841, Washington D.C.

BURIED: North Bend, Ohio

FAST FACTS:

In 1811, Harrison defeated Native American forces led by the Prophet (brother of Tecumseh) on the Wabash River, at Tippecanoe. On October 5, 1813, he defeated British and Native American forces at the Battle of the Thames. Tecumseh was killed in that battle. Harrison would later receive the gold medal from Congress for the victory.

His grandson was Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President of the United States. Harrison was the only President who studied to be a doctor.

WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT:

Vice President: John Tyler

Some Key Events:

Harrison arrived at his inauguration by train, the first President to do so.

Harrison was the first President to die in office.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the decision to free the slaves taken from the Amistad, March 9, 1841.