Home › H › Harrison, William Henry

Harrison, William Henry

ninth president of the United States, was born Feb. 9, 1773, in Charles City county, Va. and was educated for the medical profession at Hampden Sidney college. He soon after joined the army, and departed for the western wilderness to engage in the Indian wars, and was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1791 he married the daughter of Judge Symmes, and resigned his military commission for the purpose of accepting the office of secretary of the Northwestern territory, comprising the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1799 he was elected the first delegate to congress from the Northwestern territory, and in 1801, when Indiana was created into a territory, he was appointed its first governor. In 1812 he was made commander of the northwestern army, with the commission of brigadier-general, and in 1816 he was elected a representative to congress from Ohio, and held the office three years. In 1819 he was elected state senator, and in 1824 United States senator. In 1828 he was sent to the republic of Colombia as minister plenipotentiary. On his return he retired to his farm at North Bend, Ohio, where he lived until 1836, when he became a candidate for the presidency, and was defeated. On the 4th of December, 1839, the whig national convention met at Harrisburg. James Barbour, of Virginia, was chosen president of the convention. On the third day (Dec. 6) the nominations were made. Of the 254 votes, William Henry Harrison received 148; Henry Clay, 90; Winfield Scott, 16. Harrison, having received a majority, was declared the nominee. John Tyler was nominated for vice-president. They were elected in 1840, and took the oath of office March 4, 1841. Harrison died the 4th of April, 1841. Harrison held office about twenty years.

HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY AR- CHER, soldier, farmer, merchant, educator, was born April 30, 1846, in Centerville, Mo. He served during the war for three years in the fortieth regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry; subsequently taught school; and then became a successful merchant. He has held every position in the Grand Army of the Republic, from guard to department commander, and resides in Checotah, I. T.