William Henry Harrison
Early Life
William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773, at Berkeley Plantation, the eighth of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett's seven children. His father was a Virginia planter who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774–1777), signed the Declaration of Independence (1776), and was governor of Virginia (1781–1784). His mother was the daughter of a prominent Virginia planter.
Education and Military Career
Harrison received a classical education at Hampden–Sydney College in Virginia, where he was a student from 1787 to 1790. He then studied medicine in Richmond, Virginia, and in Philadelphia with Benjamin Rush. However, the death of his father left Harrison without funds for further schooling, and in 1791 he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Army, serving in the Northwest Territory.
Political Career
Harrison served as secretary of the Northwest Territory (1798–1799) and as its first delegate to Congress (1799–1800). As a delegate, he promoted a law that led to the division of the territory into the Northwest and Indiana territories, with Harrison appointed governor of the latter.
Presidency
Harrison was elected president in 1840 as the Whig candidate, defeating incumbent Martin Van Buren. His presidency, however, was cut short by his death a month after taking office.
Death and Legacy
Harrison died on April 4, 1841, just one month into his term, and his death created a brief constitutional crisis regarding succession to the presidency, as the Constitution was unclear as to whether Vice President John Tyler should assume the office of president or merely execute the duties of the vacant office.
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