William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – December 5, 1845) was an American military officer and politician who served as the tenth president of the United States. Harrison died just months after leaving office, something repeated by his successor James Polk. Harrison was the last president born as a British subject in the Thirteen Colonies and was the paternal grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 21st president of the United States.
Early Life[]
William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, as the seventh and youngest child of Founding Father Benjamin Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth Bassett. Born in Charles City, Virginia, on the family plantation known as Berkeley, he was part of a family that had been in Virginia since the years following the Mayflower's arrival in the New World. He grew up particularly close to his older brother Carter. He often referred to himself throughout life as a "child of the Revolution," with his father being governor of Virginia concurrently to George Washington's Battle of Yorktown. Until the boy was 14, he was homeschooled, before being sent off to Hampden-Sydney College, and studied Latin, Greek, logic, and debate. Unfortunately, it was not long before his father removed him for religious reasons regarding the fact the family was Episcopalian, but the school was Presbyterian. Shortly after, he and his older brother went to Pennsylvania in 1790.
The following year, the boys' father died of a disease, deeply affecting the family. Left orphaned, they were put under the care of Founding Father Robert Morris, a family friend. While in his care, Harrison opted on pursuing a medicinal career, attending the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). He soon found himself in the dumps when his older brother inherited all of the paternal inheritance, including money. Though Harrison had teachers such as Founding Father Benjamin Rush, he soon discovered medicine was not his calling: the military was. Under the guidance of Virginia governor Harry Lee (Father to Robert E. Lee), he pursued the life of a soldier.
General Harrison[]
He soon was enlisted into the military, obtaining the modern rank of private. His first posting was at Fort Washington, in Cincinnati. At the time, America was at war with Native Americans in the region. He had proven himself capable on the way there by rounding up troublemakers in Philadelphia and marching them to Cincinnati. Following the disastrous campaigns of General Arthur St. Clair, General Anthony Wayne took up command, promoting Harrison to lieutenant; taking advantage of his position, he proved his loyalty by securing a victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which ended the war; subsequently, he was a signer of the Treaty of Greenville.
When Harrison's mother passed away in 1793, he sold all his land and slaves to his brother, not feeling the need to hold onto his possessions. After being promoted to captain, he retired from the military for the time being. Prior to his leave, however, he married Anna Symmes of North Bend, daughter of Judge John Symmes. They honeymooned at Cincinnati, before being married at the home of treasurer Stephen Wood. Together over the years, they had ten children, with only their youngest son, James, dying in infancy. It is also known Harrison birthed a shadow family with one of his female slaves, Dilsia.
Diving into Politics[]
Harrison had his first experience in politics when he campaigned for a political position in Northwest Territory. His friend, Timothy Pickering, was Secretary of State, and consulted President John Adams about an appointment; Adams agreed, and Harrison was appointed as secretary of the territory - his tenure did not last long, he got bored easily, and sought a position in Congress instead. In 1799, he campaigned for Congress, promoting further American settlement; this stance would lead to statehood for various parts of the territory. By one vote, he defeated humiliated General Sinclair, serving as the territory's first representative. While he could not vote in legislations, he was permitted to serve, submit, and debate in them. In his tenure, he also promoted the Land Act of 1800, allowing land to be purchased in the territory at lower prices; he simultaneously oversaw the formation of Indiana Territory, being appointed its first governor by the president.
Under presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, he was re-appointed governor. During an interval, he was briefly sent to Louisiana, where he oversaw the government until General James Wilkinson was appointed as its first governor as a territory. Back in Indiana, he founded his plantation, Grouseland, and formed a university, Vincennes University, originally called Jefferson Academy. Over the next few years, tensions rose with abolitionists and Native Americans; Harrison had a pro-slavery stance, causing animosity towards him. In addition, his expansionist policies forced Native Americans out of much of their lands, heightening divides.
Master of the Northwest[]
Eventually, the native Americans, tired of the treatment, rose up against the United States, led by Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa. Tenskwatawa incited the rebellion, stating no harm would come to the Natives if they rose up, as they were protected by the Great Spirit. Harrison himself was notified of the incoming war by spies; using the tactic of intimidation, he told Tecumseh that the Americans outnumbered them, and that they stood no chance. Nevertheless, Tecumseh marched his armies South, and he and other leaders were escorted to Harrison at Grouseland. Tecumseh berated the general, stating no one party could sell land without approval of other parties; he threatened to kill the chiefs who signed the Fort Wayne Treaty and boasted about his growing numbers. Harrison denied his claims, stating the Natives were not one nation, and they could do as they wished, going as far to state the Great Spirit would have made them all speak the same language if they were united. So outraged was Tecumseh, he began to yell so profusely that Harrison could not understand him, though Tecumseh soon began to call him a liar - things began to get heated. Harrison drew his sword, and his men began to aim their firearms; the situation was only devolved when one of the chiefs, who was amiable to the Americans, told Tecumseh they should just leave. As he exited, Tecumseh threatened an alliance with the British Empire if the chieftains signed the treaty - these words concerned Harrison about the future of the territory and his political career.
After successfully convincing President Madison to allow him to lead a campaign against Tecumseh, he moved his troops north to surprise the Natives. What he did not entirely expect was for this to backfire - At the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Americans were ambushed. Fortunately, through all the chaos, Harrison pulled through and decisively defeated the Natives at Prophetstown, leaving hundreds dead on the Native side for the most part. The brothers fled into Canada, and it was a secure American victory. Though both the government and the press were misled into thinking it to be a defeat, clarification soon showed the opposite - Harrison was berated for lack of proper judgement, but he ended up being hailed as a war hero. The general public used the British as a scapegoat, believing they had funded the Natives. Shortly after, the War of 1812 began with Madison's declaration of war.
Harrison's dealings with the Natives were far from over. Shortly after the declaration, he served as a general in Kentucky before being put in charge of all the Northwestern armies shortly after. He received federal pay compiled with gubernatorial pay until his resignation months later, dedicating his time to fully rejoining military life. Following the disaster at the Siege of Detroit, General James Winchester, who accompanied Harrison, offered him to be his second-in-command, but Harrison declined, wanting to be in sole command. Newly-elect President DeWitt Clinton removed Winchester from his position, putting Harrison in charge of the fresh recruits. Clinton ordered Harrison to relieve Detroit, to which the latter was reluctant, instead setting up a defense in Northern Ohio; His position was named Fort Meigs, in honor of Ohio governor Junior Meigs. After awaiting federal reinforcements, he made his move north, winning victories along the way. After relieving Detroit, he moved into Canada, where he met the great force awaiting him. At the Battle of Moraviantown, Harrison decisively defeated the British, killing Tecumseh in the combat. His victory here was the second greatest one of the war, only behind the Battle of New Orleans conducted by General Andrew Jackson. Shortly after, Secretary of War Junior Armstrong had a major disagreement with Harrison over dividing the army, mistreating him and causing him to resign. Congress investigated the incident and justified Harrison's resignation, awarding him a gold medal in Washington, D.C.. President Clinton placed Harrison and Michigan Territory governor Lewis Cass in charge of negotiations - though the negotiations resulted in leniency towards the Natives and sending them out of America without harm, it paved way for more white settlement.
Back Into the Swing of Things[]
Harrison returned to Ohio, where he sought to get back into politics. After Representative John McLean was appointed as a judge in the Ohio State Court, Harrison was elected to complete his term. During that time, he attempted to gain an appointment in the cabinet of newly elect President James Monroe, only to lose the appointment to John Calhoun, though he did not let that faze him - he ran for the Ohio senate and secured himself a seat, serving for a few years; he also was appointed as a member of the Electoral College by the time Monroe won a second term in 1820.
Shortly after, he was appointed as ambassador to Gran Colombia under President Quincy Adams. Upon arrival and spending much time there, he found the condition saddening, and warned Americans that Simón Bolívar was attempting to become dictator. In his letters to Bolivar, Harrison criticized him and demanded an implementation of democracy. In response, Bolivar stated the United States was trying to use providence to reign terror on the Americas, a sentiment that became popular. When Jackson took office in 1829, Harrison was removed from his position. Before returning to America, Harrison wrote a ten-page letter to Bolivar, and the latter was struck by the ultimate patriotism and liberty of the man.
Back in the country, Harrison remained a private citizen, getting involved in Church affairs with Episcopalism, his religious denomination, and having a brief bout with the legal system after being appointed a clerk. During this time, he met Underground Railroad conductor George DeBaptiste, and the two became friends, with Harrison writing about how he dreamed of the day the whites would not look down on the blacks.
He's Back[]
In 1836, despite returning to private life, Harrison was nominated as a candidate for the Whig Party. During this nomination, the Whigs, instead of having one convention, had multiple conventions across the nation to gain better chances and perhaps force a contingent election; Harrison represented the West. The other candidates were Daniel Webster, Hugh White, and Person Magnum. Harrison visited every state possible, promoting his economic and social views, giving him the lead in the party; he promised the other candidates high positions if they dropped out. Seeing he had a good chance, they did so. Shortly after, Harrison finalized New York Representative Francis Granger as his vice, disposing any chance for John Tyler to be the one. Tyler, in a fury, turned his supporters against Harrison in favor of Martin Van Buren, the democratic candidate, but it would not be enough to stop Harrison. In a close shave, as historians would call it, Harrison won the election with 148 electoral votes, the exact amount needed to win, opposed to Van Buren's 146.
Harrison was inaugurated on March 4, 1837, alongside Granger, by Chief Justice John McLean. He hastened with his appointments - Webster was appointed Secretary of State, White was appointed to the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice by 1838, and Magnum was, with much persuasion, elected president pro tempore of the Senate, rivaling Speaker James Polk of the Democrats.
Harrison inherited a union in economic crisis. His predecessor, Henry Clay, had, while making the East prosper with hard money, make the West suffer with irresponsibly administered paper money. Many Democratic supporters were outraged at the event and called out the Whigs as the economic status in the West was their doing - on the other hand, the Whigs, along with former federal bank president Nicholas Biddle, told the public to give it time to work. Harrison, wanting to take action immediately, convened Congress to address the matter, requesting aid from both sides under Magnum and Polk respectively. The result - an independent treasury proposal, where it would take years to form, but it was gradually passed after multiple conventions of congress.
On the next issue, Democrats called for the continued removal of natives through force. Harrison agreed, and Congress allowed the president to call for forcible action. Over the coming years, natives were forced into internment camps, with the biggest groups being the Cherokee and the Seminoles, with Harrison placing General Winfield Scott in charge of the movements. Though some, actually concerned about morality, like writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, called out the president for these deeds.
Texas, the recently formed Republic, came up later in Harrison's first term. Secretary of State Daniel Webster was the leader of anti-annexationists, knowing the South just wanted another slave state, and a large one at that, to add to their numbers. Ultimately, Harrison did nothing except continue sovereign recognition of Texas, preferring a moderate stance - his successor would break this view with the Mexican-American War.
Various affairs occurred in terms of internationally. William Mackenzie, Mayor of Toronto, attempted to revolt against the British, forming the short lived Republic of Canada, seizing an American ship in the Niagara River. The ship was destroyed by the British, infuriating Americans, who destroyed a British ship in response. During that same time, Vermont residents Charles Duncombe and Robert Nelson, along with Maine governor John Fairfield, led attacks on British Canada, demanding blood for British attacks. Harrison did not initially react, feeling the conflicts to be too minor, but as it escalated, he sent General Scott and Secretary Webster to negotiate with the British. The result was the demilitarization of the international border, as well as a set border for the state of Maine. Many praised Harrison for these actions, as America did not need to be dragged into another war with their former overlords. When former President J.Q. Adams advocated for the freedom of escaped Spanish slaves from the ship La Amistad, Harrison praised Adams's actions, and ensured comfortable living for the new citizens.
At the 1839 Whig Convention, President Harrison was re-nominated for the 1840 ticket. However, when it came time for the vice president, Harrison chose the strategic Webster. Though older than Granger, Webster had much more political experience to be a vice. Webster gladly accepted, with strong backing from former President Clay - and so, on the 1840 ticket, it was Harrison and Webster. Ironically, Van Buren hung on to his popularity by a thread, agreeing to nominate John Tyler as his vice, as the conniving Tyler had returned to the Democrats. Harrison's moderate stance on issues in his first term pleased both the North and the South, especially his handling of the treasury and Canada. The Whigs, now the most powerful party, pulled through in a landslide, gaining 40% more popularity in the Electoral College than in 1836. Webster was inaugurated as vice by Chief Justice McLean on March 4, 1841. Granger was made Secretary of the Treasury shortly after. Webster wrote Harrison's second inaugural speech, and everyone wore thick overcoats, as it was frigid on the day.
The Independent Treasury was established later that year, and the debt paid off by Clay was already rising again. Realizing the need for action, Harrison called for Granger to find a substantial tariff to deal with the crisis. Granger was successful in coming up with ideas, but all seemed to have unwanted consequences. The crisis would remain for the remainder of the term until Granger's successor, Robert Walker, under the Polk Administration, solved this issue, bringing higher trade and net revenue.
Captain John Fremont journeyed across the West, going as far as Oregon and claiming American settlement along the way, notably in places like Wyoming and California. At the urging of General Scott, Fremont was promoted to general by the president. Also at this time, General Robert Stockton nearly killed a handful of innocents onboard a ceremony onboard the USS Princeton on the Potomac - President Harrison prevented him from doing so by recommending he not launch another cannon shot.
A Grandfather's Legacy[]
In the 1844 Presidential Election, Harrison supported former president Henry Clay's bid, campaigning for him the best he could; despite the efforts of him and other Whigs, it was not enough to defeat Speaker Polk of the Democrats, the first dark horse candidate. Nevertheless, Harrison, along with Webster, attended Polk's inauguration on March 4, 1845. In his farewell address, the outgoing president fought back tears as he graciously thanked the people for granting him such a grand opportunity he never thought he would achieve many years prior. The president said his goodbyes to all politicians and people present, including Polk, before returning to Indiana, spending time with his family as a private citizen.
Months later, Harrison fell ill, and his condition deteriorated quickly. On December 5, he died at the age of 72, surrounded by his wife, Anna, their two remaining daughters, Beth and Annie, and their last surviving son, Scott, along with their grandchildren. His final words were, My love, I hope you understand the burden you now have to carry - I ask for nothing more. referring to the large family they had created that he was leaving behind. President Polk issued a month of mourning, and many politicians issued tributes - contemporary historians refer to it as a rough year, as President Andrew Jackson had passed away as well months earlier. Harrison's body stayed at Grouseland for a time to allow a private funeral for all to say goodbye, before being interred at North Bend, Ohio, which is now the William Henry Harrison Tomb State Memorial.
Harrison is remembered for his successful negotiations, though controversial, that allowed American expansion, as well as the betterment of the federal economy and some expansions throughout the nation. While his moral values have come into question throughout the ages, there is no doubt he was one of the most influential presidents of the United States. Historians refer to him as the most influential man in the Northwest, on top of his already wavering reputation. He is often ranked among presidents like Clay and Polk, in between the upper tier and the median.