HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
\hˈaɹɪsən], \hˈaɹɪsən], \h_ˈa_ɹ_ɪ_s_ə_n]\
Sort: Oldest first
-
(February 9, 1773-April 4, 1841), ninth President of the United States, was born in Virginia, and was son of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was educated at Hampden Sidney College, entered the army, and fought at Wayne's victory of 1794. In 1798 he became Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and in 1799 delegate to Congress. In 1800 he was appointed Governor of the new Indiana Territory. He was still Governor when the Indian outbreak occurred, and his victory at Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811, gave to him a national reputation and an epithet for life. In the War of 1812 he was major-general, first of Kentucky militia, and then in the regular army. He defended Fort Meigs against the British in 1813, and on October 5 of the same year he achieved his second noted military exploit by defeating Proctor and Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames. General Harrison resigned from the army in 1814. From 1816 to 1819 he was Congressman, from 1825 to 1828 U.S. Senator, and U.S. Minister to the United States of Colombia 1828-1829. As the Whig candidate for President in 1836 he was defeated by Van Buren. In December, 1839, the Whig Convention put Harrison again before the country', and Van Buren was again his antagonist. The campaign of 1840 was without precedent or successor. The "log cabin and hard cider" charged by his opponents against his early record, became a tower of strength to him; a "campaign ball" was set rolling across the country; and " Tippecanoe and Tyler too" were fairly " sung into the White House." In his Cabinet Webster as Secretary of State was the ablest member. Fatigue and exposure and importunities of office-seekers caused his death after a month of service,-the first death of a President while in office. General Harrison, though by no means brilliant, was an able administrator, and a man of good sense.
By John Franklin Jameson