William Henry Harrison

Today is the anniversary of the birth of the President with the shortest tenure.  Here is the information on him that appears on this web site.

NAME –  William Henry Harrison

2. NICKNAME(S) – Old Tippecanoe  /  Old Granny
3. BIRTH / DEATH – Feb. 9, 1773  Berkeley, Va.  /  1841  Washington, D.C.
4. FATHER – politician
5. MOTHER – housewife
6. COLLEGE – Hampden-Sydney College  /  University of Pennsylvania
7. WIFE – Anna
8. KIDS – 4 girls, 6 boys (John Scott was the father of Benjamin Harrison)
9. PETS – goat (Goat)  /  cow (Sulkey)
10. RELIGION – Episcopalian
11. ANCESTRY – English
12. AGE – 68

FIRSTS:

–  first President to die in office

MA AND PA:  His father owned a plantation in Virginia.  He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and later Governor of Virginia.

BACKGROUND: 

–  fought bravely in the Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794

–  Governor of Indiana Territory  1801-12

–  Battle of Tippecanoe 1811

–  won the Battle of the Thames in Canada during the War of 1812

–  Ohio Congressman 1816-19

–  Ohio state senator 1819-21

–  U.S. Senator 1825-28

–  one of four Whig candidates for President in 1836

FIRST LADY:  He eloped with Anna because her father did not want her marrying a soldier.  Her father was a judge and landowner who had served in the Continental Army.  She taught their kids and local kids.  She did not set foot in the White House, she was ill and stayed home. 

RETIREMENT:  None.  He died one month into his term after catching pneumonia at his inauguration.  He had only himself to blame as he gave a very long speech in cold, wet weather with no hat on.

TRIVIA:

–  when he was President, he would walk to the city market with a basket to shop

–  his campaign featured his love of hard cider and coonskin caps and his birth in a log cabin (which was not true);  his campaign slogan was “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too”

–  when he was eight, British General Benedict Arnold raided Virginia and ransacked his family plantation, stealing furniture, killing cattle, and liberating horses and slaves

–  gave the longest inaugural address –  8,443 words  (+2 hours)

–  he studied classical literature and history at Hampden-Sydney and then medicine at University of Pennsylvania under famous doctor/politician Benjamin Rush, but he joined the army instead

ANECDOTE:

THE LOG CABIN CAMPAIGN

            The campaign of 1840 was one of the most raucous ever.  It was known as the Log Cabin Campaign as the Whigs went all in for their depiction of the wealthy general as a common man.  It was the first Presidential campaign with a lot of marketing:  log-cabin buttons, log-cabin handkerchiefs, log-cabin sun bonnets, log-cabin tea cups, log-cabin plates, Tippecanoe Tobacco, Tippecanoe Shaving Soap.  A lot of hard cider was consumed because supposedly Harrison was a fan of the common peoples’ beverage.  Van Buren was accused of being a rich snob who perfumed his mustache, wore a corset, and ate with golden utensils.  The Democrats responded by accusing Harrison of being a profane drunkard who lived loosely.  They called him “Old Tipler” and “Granny Harrison”.  Some suggested saying his name backwards because it was “Nosirrah!”

–  Boller 91-92