William Henry Harrison

(1773-1841) Governor of Indiana Territory, Indian fighter, general, President of the United States

William Henry Harrison is perhaps best remembered as the first half of the presidential campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too!" He had received the nickname "Tippecanoe" after defeating the Shawnee Indians in 1811 at the Battle of Tippecanoe; John Tyler was his running mate, hence the second half of the slogan. The Whig Party first ran Harrison for President against Democrat Martin Van Buren in 1836. He lost. They ran him again in 1840. Using Harrison's colorful military career as their theme, the Whigs turned the campaign into a circus. This time, Harrison defeated Van Buren. He became the first Whig President, and the only President whose grandson, Benjamin Harrison, also became President.

Unfortunately, Harrison is also remembered for serving the shortest presidential term in U.S. history -- 31 days. After giving the longest inaugural speech in American history, outside in a freezing rain, Harrison caught a cold which turned into pneumonia. On April 4, 1841, he became the first President to die in office.

Important Dates and Events in William Henry Harrison's Life
Feb 9, 1773	Born at Berkeley Plantation, in Charles City County, Virginia.
1794	Developed a plan which led to an American victory on the Miami River.
Nov 25, 1795	Married Anna Symmes.
1798	Appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory.
1799	Elected the first delegate to Congress from the Northwest Territory.
1801-1813	Governor of Indiana Territory.
1809	Negotiated a treaty with Indian leaders which transferred about 2,900,000 acres of land on the Wabash and White rivers to settlers.
Nov 7, 1811	Defeated Shawnee Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
1812-1814	Served in the War of 1812.
~1814	Settled on a farm in North Bend, Ohio.
1816-1819	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
1819-1821	Elected to the Ohio Senate.
1820	Unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Ohio.
1822	Unsuccessful candidate for U.S. House of Representatives.
1825-1828	Member of the U.S. Senate.
1828-1829	U.S. Minister to Colombia.
1836	Defeated for presidency by Martin Van Buren.
1840	Elected President of the United States.
Apr 4, 1841	Died in the White House.