Person Information
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William Henry Harrison
Birth: 2-9-1773
Death: 4-4-1841
Nickname: Old Tippecanoe
Biography
William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bassett) Harrison in Charles City County, Virginia. Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney College where he studied medicine. He entered the Army in 1798 where he served during the Indian Wars. Harrison was appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory and Indian Commissioner in 1798. In November 1811, he defeated diverse Native American tribes under the leadership of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa near the Tippecanoe River, earning him the nickname "Tippecanoe." Harrison served as a Major General during the War of 1812. He filled the congressional term of John McLean and was reelected to the Fifteenth U.S. Congress in 1816. Harrison served in the State Senate from 1819-1821 and the U.S. Senate from 1825-1828. In 1840, Harrison was elected the ninth U.S. President as a Whig at the age of 67. Harrison married Anna Symmes on November 25, 1795. The couple had ten children. Harrison died one month into his term as President on April 4, 1841, from pneumonia. He was the first U.S. President to die in office.
Letter References
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 3, 1850
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, May 21, 1848
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 3, 1842
Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, May 11, 1840
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 10, 1839
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 25, 1840
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 19, 1840
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 4, 1840
Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, November 13, 1840
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 5, 1840
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 16, 1840
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 16, 1840
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to Frances Miller Seward, August 12, 1840
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, July 15, 1844
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, October 16, 1838
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to Williame Henry Seward, October 19 1838
Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, December 9, 1839
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 1, 1836
Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, December 22, 1836
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 14, 1835
Citations
William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bassett) Harrison in Charles City County, Virginia. Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney College where he studied medicine. He entered the Army in 1798 where he served during the Indian Wars. Harrison was appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory and Indian Commissioner in 1798. In November 1811, he defeated diverse Native American tribes under the leadership of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa near the Tippecanoe River, earning him the nickname "Tippecanoe." Harrison served as a Major General during the War of 1812. He filled the congressional term of John McLean and was reelected to the Fifteenth U.S. Congress in 1816. Harrison served in the State Senate from 1819-1821 and the U.S. Senate from 1825-1828. In 1840, Harrison was elected the ninth U.S. President as a Whig at the age of 67. Harrison married Anna Symmes on November 25, 1795. The couple had ten children. Harrison died one month into his term as President on April 4, 1841, from pneumonia. He was the first U.S. President to die in office.