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President |
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Served 1841 (died in office)
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William Henry Harrison was born February 9, 1773, in Charles City County, Virginia, at the Berkeley Plantation. At an early age, Harrison decided to become a soldier and over time, became a general. He became famous by winning a battle in 1811 against the Native Americans led by Tecumseh on the banks of the Tippecanoe Creek in Indiana. From this battle, he earned the nickname of "Old Tip." He married Anna Tuthill Symmes on November 25, 1795, and had 10 children, more than any President to date. One of his 48 grandchildren, Benjamin Harrison, became the 23rd President of the United States. When the elder Harrison ran for President in 1840 at age 67, thought he was too old. To balance the ticket, Harrison chose John Tyler, a popular politician 50 years old, as his Vice-Presidential candidate. Their campaign slogan, "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," became famous. Their fame and Harrison's reputation for hard work helped him to win the election. Harrison was the third Army general to serve as president, after Washington and Jackson, and the first Whig Party President. After giving the longest inaugural address in history on a bitter cold day, Harrison became ill and died after just 31 days as President, on April 4, 1841. White House biography
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