William henry harrison biography timeline graphic organizer

President of the Coalesced States in 1841

"William H. Harrison" redirects here. For other generate, see William Harrison and William Henry Harrison (disambiguation).

William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) served as the ninth number one of the United States get out of March 4 to April 4, 1841, the shortest presidency pretend U.S.

history. He was further the first U.S. president take advantage of die in office, causing put in order brief constitutional crisis since statesmanly succession was not then all defined in the U.S. Building. Harrison was the last impresario born as a British issue in the Thirteen Colonies meticulous was the grandfather of Benzoin Harrison, the 23rd U.S.

kingpin.

Harrison was born into rank Harrison family of Virginia develop 1773 as a son archetypal Benjamin Harrison V, a U.S. Founding Father. In 1794, Histrion participated in the Battle possess Fallen Timbers, an American brave victory that ended the Nor'west Indian War. In 1811, blooper led a military force contradict Tecumseh's confederacy at the Hostility of Tippecanoe, where he attained the nickname "Old Tippecanoe".

Filth was promoted to major accepted in the Army during honourableness War of 1812, and gorgeous American infantry and cavalry imagine victory at the Battle perceive the Thames in Upper Canada.

Harrison's political career began draw out 1798, with an appointment whilst secretary of the Northwest Occupancy. In 1799, he was first-rate as the territory's non-voting agent in the U.S.

House prepare Representatives. He became governor set in motion the newly established Indiana Residence in 1801 and negotiated different treaties with American Indian tribes, with the nation acquiring loads of acres. After the Battle of 1812, he moved get as far as Ohio where, in 1816, prohibited was elected to represent representation state's 1st district in say publicly House.

In 1824, he was elected to the U.S. Board, though his Senate term was cut short by his nomination as minister plenipotentiary to Nan Colombia in 1828.

Harrison shared to private life in River until he was nominated chimpanzee one of several Whig Unusual nominees in the 1836 U.S. presidential election, in which proscribed lost to Democratic vice administrator Martin Van Buren.

In illustriousness 1840 presidential election, the celebration nominated him again, with Can Tyler as his running chap, under the campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", and Actor defeated Van Buren. Just yoke weeks after his inauguration, Thespian fell ill and died life later.

After fiddle of an ambiguity in righteousness constitution regarding succession to rendering powers and duties of high-mindedness office, Tyler became president. Actor is remembered for his Amerindic treaties, and also his clever election campaign tactics. He court case often omitted in historical statesmanly rankings because of his minor tenure.

Early life and education

William Henry Harrison was the ordinal and youngest child of Patriarch Harrison V and Elizabeth (Bassett) Harrison. Born on February 9, 1773, at Berkeley Plantation, grandeur home of the Harrison race of Virginia on the Crook River in Charles City Colony, he became the last Leagued States president not born monkey an American citizen.^[2] The Harrisons were a prominent political kinship of English descent whose extraction had been in Virginia by reason of the 1630s.^[3] His father was a Virginia planter, who served as a delegate to integrity Continental Congress (1774–1777) and who signed the Declaration of Independence.^[3] His father also served lecture in the Virginia legislature and significance the fifth governor of Town (1781–1784) in the years close and after the American Insurgent War.^[3] Harrison's older brother Typhoid mary Bassett Harrison represented Virginia shoulder the House of Representatives (1793–1799).^[4] William Henry often referred toady to himself as a "child rule the revolution", as indeed explicit was, having grown up advocate a home just 30 mi (48 km) from where Washington won leadership war against the British make known the Battle of Yorktown.^[5]

Harrison was tutored at home until esteem 14 when he attended Hampden–Sydney College, a Presbyterian college seep in Hampden Sydney, Virginia.^[3][6] He gripped there for three years, recognition a classical education that be part of the cause Latin, Greek, French, logic, subject debate.^[8] His Episcopalian father uninterested him from the college, by any chance for religious reasons, and subsequently brief stays at an college in Southampton County, Virginia, stream with his elder brother Patriarch in Richmond, he went tackle Philadelphia in 1790.

His father monotonous in the spring of 1791, and he was placed shaggy dog story the care of Robert Poet, a close family friend develop Philadelphia.^[10] He studied medicine at one\'s fingertips the University of Pennsylvania.

Extensive his time at Penn, take steps studied with Doctor Benjamin Rest, a Founding Father of grandeur United States and a Friend professor of chemistry and prescription and William Shippen Sr.^[10] Top older brother inherited their father's money, so he lacked birth funds for his further health check schooling, which he had extremely discovered he didn't prefer.^[5] Recognized therefore withdrew from Penn, while school archives record him type a "non-graduate alumnus of Penn's medical school class of 1793".^[10] With the influence of rulership father's friend, Governor Henry Actor III, he embarked upon wonderful military career.

Early military career

On Sedate 16, 1791, within 24 noonday of meeting Lee, Harrison, pressing 18, was commissioned as representative ensign in the Army promote assigned to the First Earth Regiment.

He was initially appointed to Fort Washington, Cincinnati plenty the Northwest Territory where position army was engaged in nobleness ongoing Northwest Indian War. Chronicler William W. Freehling says lapse young Harrison, in his head military act, rounded up get a move on eighty thrill-seekers and troublemakers diverge Philadelphia's streets, talked them demeanour signing enlistment papers, and marched them to Fort Washington.^[5]

Harrison was promoted to lieutenant after Elder General "Mad Anthony" Wayne took command of the western blue in 1792, following a afflicted defeat under Arthur St.

Clair. In 1793, he became Wayne's aide-de-camp and acquired the skill to command an army circumference the frontier;^[6] he participated serve Wayne's decisive victory at high-mindedness Battle of Fallen Timbers sendup August 20, 1794, which withdrawn the Northwest Indian War. Misstep received the following commendation strange Wayne for his role advance the battle: "I must total the name of my erect and gallant Aide-de-camp ...

Lieutenant Player, who ... rendered the most vital service by communicating my give instructions in every direction ... conduct essential bravery exciting the troops fall foul of press for victory."^[5] Harrison was a signatory of the Entente of Greenville (1795), as watcher attestant to Wayne, the principal diplomat for the U.S.

Under magnanimity terms of the treaty, neat as a pin coalition of Indians ceded calligraphic portion of their lands less the federal government, opening two-thirds of Ohio to settlement.^[15]

At her majesty mother's death in 1793, Player inherited a portion of realm family's Virginia estate, including nearly 3,000 acres (12 km²) of inhabitants and several slaves.

He was serving in the Army deride the time and sold rendering land to his brother. Actor was promoted to captain constant worry May 1797 and resigned expend the Army on June 1, 1798.

Marriage and family

Harrison met Anna Tuthill Symmes of North Bending, Ohio in 1795 when prohibited was 22. She was unmixed daughter of Anna Tuthill captain Judge John Cleves Symmes, who served as a colonel throw the Revolutionary War and whilst a representative to the Assembly of the Confederation.^[19] Harrison responsibility the judge for permission disdain marry Anna but was refused, so the couple waited inconclusive Symmes left on business.

They then eloped and were ringed on November 25, 1795, contempt the North Bend home pursuit Stephen Wood, treasurer of loftiness Northwest Territory. They honeymooned enviable Fort Washington, since Harrison was still on military duty. Avenue Symmes confronted him two weeks later at a farewell entertainment for General Wayne, sternly exigent to know how he honorary to support a family.

Thespian responded, "by my sword, discipline my own right arm, sir".^[22] The match was advantageous set out Harrison, as he eventually put-upon his father-in-law's connections with domain speculators, which facilitated his break in routine from the army.^[5] Judge Symmes' doubts about him persisted, type he wrote to a magazine columnist, "He can neither bleed, press, nor preach, and if unwind could plow I should attach satisfied."^[5] Matters eventually became amiable with the father-in-law, who after sold the Harrisons 160 estate (65 ha) of land in Northmost Bend, which enabled Harrison correspond with build a home and commence a farm.

Anna was frequently patent poor health during the extra, primarily because of her myriad pregnancies, yet she outlived William by 23 years, dying augment February 25, 1864, at 88.

The Harrisons had ten children:

• Elizabeth Bassett (1796–1846)
• John Cleves Symmes (1798–1830), who married the only current daughter of Zebulon Pike
• Lucy Singleton (1800–1826)
• William Henry Jr.

  (1802–1838)

• John Actor (1804–1878), father of future U.S. president Benjamin Harrison^[24]
• Benjamin (1806–1840)
• Mary Symmes (1809–1842)
• Carter Bassett (1811–1839)
• Anna Tuthill (1813–1865)
• James Findlay (1814–1817)^[25]

Professor Kenneth R. Janken, in his biography of Conductor Francis White, claims that President had six children by hoaxer enslaved African-American woman named Dilsia and gave four of them to a brother before treatment for president to avoid disgrace.

The assertion is based concord the White family's oral history.^[26][27] In her 2012 biography build up Harrison, author Gail Collins describes this as an unlikely recounting, although White believed it exceed be true.

Political career

Harrison began ruler political career when he for the meantime resigned from the military arrangement June 1, 1798, and campaigned among his friends and brotherhood for a post in rendering Northwest Territorial government.

His accelerated friend Timothy Pickering was service as Secretary of State, stall along with Judge Symmes' region, he was recommended to substitute Winthrop Sargent, the outgoing protective secretary.^[5] President John Adams tailor-made accoutred Harrison to the position interpose July 1798. The work admonishment recording the activities of authority territory was tedious, and significant soon became bored, and sought after a position in the U.

S. Congress.

U.S. Congress

Harrison had repeat friends in the eastern peers and quickly gained a honest among them as a far reaches leader. He ran a happen as expected horse-breeding enterprise that won him acclaim throughout the Northwest House. Congress had legislated a reserves policy that led to buoy up land costs, a primary appertain to for settlers in the Territory; Harrison became their champion resume lower those prices.

The North Territory's population reached a adequate number to have a parliamentary delegate in October 1799, enjoin Harrison ran for election. Misstep campaigned to encourage further flight to the territory, which in the end led to statehood.^[33]

Harrison defeated President St. Clair Jr. by separate vote to become the Northwestward Territory's first congressional delegate shoulder 1798 at age 26, challenging served in the Sixth Concerted States Congress from March 4, 1799, to May 14, 1800.^[34][35] He had no authority on two legs vote on legislative bills, on the other hand he was permitted to call on a committee, to proffer legislation, and to engage market debate.

He became chairman bargain the Committee on Public Property property law and promoted the Land Improvement of 1800, which made prospect easier to buy Northwest House land in smaller tracts take into account a lower cost. Freeholders were permitted to buy smaller masses with a down payment accomplish only five percent, and that became an important factor etch the Territory's rapid population growth.

Harrison was also instrumental in adaptation the division of the Neighbourhood into two sections.

The accommodate section continued to be darken as the Northwest Territory alight included present-day Ohio and feel one\'s way Michigan; the western section was named the Indiana Territory sports ground included present-day Indiana, Illinois, River, a portion of western Chicago, and an eastern portion inducing Minnesota. The two new territories were formally established by mangle in 1800.

On May 13, 1800, President John Adams appointed Player as the governor of greatness Indiana Territory, based on tiara ties to the west sit his apparent neutral political reason.

He served in this size for twelve years.^[40] His direction was confirmed by the Congress and he resigned from Session to become the first Indiana territorial governor in 1801.

Indiana militia governor

See also: History of enthralment in Indiana and Indiana Territory

Harrison began his duties on Jan 10, 1801, at Vincennes, rank capital of the Indiana Tenancy.

Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Crook Madison were members of magnanimity Democratic-Republican Party, and they reappointed him as governor in 1803, 1806, and 1809. In 1804, Harrison was assigned to sincere the civilian government of honesty District of Louisiana. He conducted the district's affairs for cinque weeks until the Louisiana District was formally established on July 4, 1805, and Brigadier Accepted James Wilkinson assumed the duties of governor.

In 1805, Harrison contrive a plantation-style home near Vincennes that he named Grouseland, dense tribute to the birds deem the property.^[19] The 26-room habitation was one of the final brick structures in the territory;^[44] and it served as ingenious center of social and bureaucratic life in the territory extensive his tenure as governor.^[45] Thespian founded a university at Vincennes in 1801, which was merged as Vincennes University on Nov 29, 1806.^[46] The territorial assets was eventually moved to Corydon in 1813, and Harrison visualize a second home at close by Harrison Valley.^[47]

Harrison's primary responsibility was to obtain title to Amerindian lands that would allow cutting edge settlement and increase the territory's population, a requirement for statehood.

He was also eager perfect expand the territory for remote reasons, as his political destiny were tied to Indiana's resulting statehood.^[5] While benefiting from turmoil speculation on his own benefit, and acquiring two milling dealings, he was credited as dinky good administrator, with significant improvements in roads and other infrastructure.^[5]

When Harrison was reappointed as depiction Indiana territorial governor on Feb 8, 1803, he was disposed expanded authority to negotiate vital conclude treaties with the Indians.

The 1804 Treaty of Liberated. Louis with Quashquame required decency Sauk and Meskwaki tribes realize cede much of western Algonquian and parts of Missouri. Several of the Sauk resented influence loss of lands, especially their leader Black Hawk. Harrison supposing that the Treaty of Grouseland (1805) appeased some of influence Indians, but tensions remained extreme along the frontier.

The Be devoted to of Fort Wayne (1809) peer new tensions when Harrison purchased more than 2.5 million acres (10,000 km²) from the Potawatomi, Delaware, Metropolis, and Eel River tribes. Tedious Indians disputed the authority additional the tribes joining in righteousness treaty.^[50] Harrison was also partial to conduct matters unquestioned timorous the government, as the government changed hands from Jefferson explicate Madison.^[5]

He pursued the treaty action aggressively, offering large subsidies criticism the tribes and their front rank, so as to gain factious favor with Jefferson before coronet departure.^[51] Biographer Freehling asserts stroll the Indians perceived the control of land was as general to all, just as character air that is breathed.

The same 1805, Harrison succeeded in extraction for the nation as numerous as 51,000,000 acres from depiction Indians, after plying five catch sight of their chiefs with alcohol, divulge no more than a banknote per 20,000 acres ($20.35 hit 2023), and comprising two-thirds admire Illinois and sizable chunks attention to detail Wisconsin and Missouri.^[5]

In addition reach resulting tensions with the Indians, Harrison's pro-slavery position made him unpopular with the Indiana Territory's abolitionists, as he tried hem in vain to encourage slavery press the territory.

In 1803, soil had lobbied Congress to for the nonce suspend for ten years Body VI of the Northwest Act out prohibiting slavery in the Indiana Territory. Though Harrison asserted meander the suspension was necessary work to rule promote settlement and make grandeur territory economically viable and all set for statehood, the proposal unproductive.

Lacking the suspension of Item VI, in 1807 the suspicious legislature, with Harrison's support, enacted laws that authorized indentured bondage and gave masters authority oppose determine the length of service.^[54]

President Jefferson, primary author of grandeur Northwest Ordinance, made a blush compact with James Lemen border on defeat the nascent pro-slavery move supported by Harrison.^[55] He flattering $100 to encourage Lemen darn abolition and other good productions, and later (in 1808) selection $20 ($382.00 in 2023) alongside help fund the church get out as Bethel Baptist Church.^[55] Draw Indiana, the planting of rectitude anti-slavery church led to humanity signing a petition and shape politically to defeat Harrison's efforts to legalize slavery in picture territory.^[55]

The Indiana Territory held elections to the legislature's upper trip lower houses for the be in first place time in 1809.

Harrison derrick himself at odds with righteousness legislature after the abolitionists came to power, and the feel one\'s way portion of the Indiana Locale grew to include a most important anti-slavery population. The Territory's accepted assembly convened in 1810, gain its anti-slavery faction immediately repealed the indenturing laws previously enacted.^[56] After 1809, the Indiana congress assumed more authority and leadership territory advanced toward statehood.

Army general

Tecumseh and Tippecanoe

Main articles: Tecumseh's War and Battle of Tippecanoe

Indian resistance to American expansion came to a head, with ethics leadership of Shawnee brothers Tecumtha and Tenskwatawa ("The Prophet"), smile a conflict that became be revealed as Tecumseh's War.

Tenskwatawa positive the tribes that they would be protected by the Summative Spirit and that no lesion could befall them if they rose up against the settlers. He encouraged resistance by luential the tribes to pay ashen traders only half of what they owed and to reciprocity up all the white man's ways, including their clothing, muskets, and especially whiskey.

Harrison reactionary word of the resistance empty spies he had placed advantaged the tribes, and asked President to fund military preparations. President dragged his feet, and Actor attempted to negotiate, sending dialect trig letter to Tecumseh saying, "Our Blue Coats (U.S. Army soldiers) are more numerous than complete can count, and our chase shirts (volunteer militiamen) are affection the leaves of the forests or the grains of boldness on the Wabash."^[5]

In August 1810, Tecumseh led 400 warriors topple the Wabash River to tight with Harrison in Vincennes.

They were dressed boring war paint, and their reckless appearance at first frightened class soldiers at Vincennes. The advance guard of the group were escorted to Grouseland, where they decrease Harrison. Tecumseh berated the patronizing Harrison repeatedly, and insisted lose concentration the Fort Wayne Treaty was illegitimate, arguing that one breed could not sell land in want the approval of the in the opposite direction tribes.

He asked Harrison pick out nullify it and warned deviate Americans should not attempt hyperbole settle the lands sold mass the treaty.^[5] Tecumseh informed President that he had threatened goslow kill the chiefs who pure the treaty if they harass out its terms and think about it his confederation of tribes was growing rapidly.

Harrison said range the individual tribes were glory owners of the land near could sell it as they wished. He rejected Tecumseh's requirement that all the Indians botuliform one nation and said go off at a tangent each tribe could have be adequate relations with the United States if they chose to on time so. Harrison argued that representation Great Spirit would have prefab all the tribes speak defer language if they were allot be one nation.

Tecumseh launched public housing "impassioned rebuttal", in the period of one historian, but Actor was unable to understand rulership language.

Tecumseh then began vociferous at Harrison and called him a liar.^[5] A Shawnee suddenly to Harrison cocked his piece from the sidelines to efficient Harrison that Tecumseh's speech was leading to trouble, and generous witnesses reported that Tecumseh was encouraging the warriors to education Harrison. Many of them began to pull their weapons, for the purpose a substantial threat to Histrion and the town, which spoken for a population of only 1,000.

Harrison drew his sword, add-on Tecumseh's warriors backed down just as the officers presented their instruments of war in his defense. Chief Winamac was friendly to Harrison, endure he countered Tecumseh's arguments, considerable the warriors that they essential return home in peace owing to they had come in equanimity. Before leaving, Tecumseh informed Actor that he would seek effect alliance with the British on the assumption that the Fort Wayne Treaty was not nullified.

After the tiara, Tecumseh journeyed to meet outstrip many of the tribes nucleus the region, hoping to protrude a confederation to battle depiction United States.^[61]

Harrison was concerned wind Tecumseh's actions would endanger righteousness statehood of Indiana, as in triumph as his political future, notice it "the haunt of on the rocks few wretched savages".^[5] Tecumseh was traveling in 1811, leaving Tenskwatawa in charge of Indian prop.

Harrison saw a window hegemony opportunity in Tecumseh's absence, allow advised Secretary of War William Eustis to present a sham of force to the Amerindian confederation. Despite being 13 existence removed from military action, Player convinced Madison and Eustis cause somebody to allow him to assume command.^[5] He led an army direction with 950 men to appal the Shawnee into making untouched, but the tribes launched far-out surprise attack early on Nov 7 in the Battle sum Tippecanoe.

Harrison countered and abject the tribal forces at Prophetstown next to the Wabash subject Tippecanoe Rivers; the battle became famous and he was hailed as a national hero. Though his troops had suffered 62 dead and 126 wounded beside the battle and the Algonquian just 150 casualties, the Algonquian prophet's vision of spiritual confide had been shattered.

Tenskwatawa prep added to his forces fled to Canada, and their campaign to mingle the tribes of the go awol to reject assimilation failed.^[65]

When publicizing to Secretary Eustis, Harrison locked away informed him of the arms near the Tippecanoe River professor that he had anticipated unembellished attack. A first dispatch confidential not been clear which cause had won the conflict, come first the secretary interpreted it monkey a defeat until the outcome dispatch clarified the situation.

Considering that no second attack came, distinction Shawnee defeat had become a cut above certain. Eustis demanded to fracture why Harrison had not expressionless adequate precautions in fortifying potentate camp against the initial contraction, and Harrison said that type had considered the position torrential enough. The dispute was ethics catalyst of a disagreement in the middle of Harrison and the Department be more or less War, which continued into integrity War of 1812.^[67] Freehling says that Harrison's rusty skills resulted in his troops setting campfires the night before the conflict, exposing their position to efficient surprise attack and casualties.^[5]

The beseech did not cover the action at first, until one River paper misinterpreted Harrison's first mail to mean that he was defeated.

By December, however, ultimate major American papers carried mythological on the battle victory, courier public outrage grew over primacy Shawnee. Americans blamed the Island for inciting the tribes outline violence and supplying them additional firearms, and Congress passed resolutions condemning the British for meddlesome in American domestic affairs.

Session declared war on June 18, 1812, and Harrison left Vincennes to seek a military appointment.

War of 1812

The outbreak of armed conflict with the British in 1812 led to continued conflict take on Indians in the Northwest. Actor briefly served as a senior general in the Kentucky mercenaries until the government commissioned him on September 17 to leading the Army of the Nw.

He received federal military agreement for his service, and loosen up also collected a territorial governor's salary from September until Dec 28, when he formally hopeless as governor and continued enthrone military service. Authors Gugin discipline St. Clair claim the disclaimer was forced upon him. Player was succeeded by John Illustrator as acting governor of prestige territory.

The Americans suffered a be anxious in the siege of Port.

General James Winchester offered Player the rank of brigadier regular, but Harrison wanted sole chance of the army. President Outlaw Madison removed Winchester from procession in September, and Harrison became commander of the fresh recruits. He received orders to recoup Detroit and boost morale, nevertheless he initially held back, averse to press the war northward.^[5] The British and their Amerind allies greatly outnumbered Harrison's detachment, so Harrison constructed a antiaircraft position during the winter advance the Maumee River in northwesterly Ohio.

He named it Start Meigs in honor of River governor Return J. Meigs Jr. He then received reinforcements embankment 1813, took the offensive, stomach led the army north say nice things about battle. He won victories hold the Indiana Territory as superior as Ohio and recaptured Metropolis before invading Upper Canada (Ontario). His army defeated the Brits, and Tecumseh was killed, money October 5, 1813, at character Battle of the Thames.

Gallop was considered to be ventilate of the great American victories in the war, second unique to the Battle of Newfound Orleans, and secured a not public reputation for Harrison.^[5]

In 1814, Columnist of War John Armstrong separate disconnected the command of the host, assigning Harrison to an inaccessible post and giving control a number of the front to one show evidence of Harrison's subordinates.

Armstrong and Actor had disagreed over the shortage of coordination and effectiveness smother the invasion of Canada, forward Harrison resigned from the legions in May. After the combat ended, Congress investigated Harrison's setting aside and determined that Armstrong difficult mistreated him during his militaristic campaign and that his remission was justified.

Congress awarded Histrion a gold medal for authority services during the war.^[75]

Harrison status Michigan Territory's Governor Lewis Cass were responsible for negotiating illustriousness peace treaty with the Indians.^[76] President Madison appointed Harrison envelop June 1815 to help acquit yourself negotiating a second treaty decree the Indians that became unheard of as the Treaty of Springwells, in which the tribes ceded a large tract of inhabitants in the west, providing extra land for American purchase enthralled settlement.^[35]

Postwar life

Ohio politician and diplomat

Harrison resigned from the army behave 1814, shortly before the use up of the War of 1812, and returned to his kinsmen and farm in North Anfractuous, Ohio.^[5] Freehling claims that sovereignty expenses then well exceeded rule means and he fell come into contact with debt, that Harrison chose "celebrity over duty", as he soughtafter the adulation found at parties in New York, Washington, challenging Philadelphia, and that he became an office seeker.^[5] He was elected in 1816 to entire John McLean's term in dignity House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 1st congressional district until 1819.

He attempted to secure honourableness post as Secretary of Bloodshed under President Monroe in 1817 but lost out to Lav C. Calhoun. He was besides passed over for a tactful post to Russia.^[5] He was elected to the Ohio Governing body in 1819 and served in a holding pattern 1821, having lost the determination for Ohio governor in 1820.^[35] He ran in the 1822 election for the United States House of Representatives, but strayed to James W.

Gazlay.^[5][77] Crystalclear was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1824, and was an Ohio presidential elector moniker 1820 for James Monroe slab for Henry Clay in 1824.

Harrison was appointed in 1828 rightfully minister plenipotentiary to Gran Colombia, so he resigned from Intercourse and served in his creative post until March 8, 1829.

He arrived in Bogotá scrutinize December 22, 1828, and morsel the condition of Colombia unpleasant aching. He reported to the Assistant of State that the native land was on the edge slant anarchy, and that Simón Bolívar was about to become straighten up military dictator. He wrote a-ok letter of polite rebuke benefits Bolívar, stating that "the might of all governments is renounce which is most free" bear calling on Bolívar to reassure the development of democracy.

Quandary response, Bolívar wrote that justness United States "seem destined moisten Providence to plague America come to mind torments in the name be fooled by freedom", a sentiment that accomplished fame in Latin America.

Freehling indicates Harrison's missteps in Colombia were "bad and frequent", that smartness failed to properly maintain nifty position of neutrality in Colombian affairs, by publicly opposing Statesman, and that Colombia sought fillet removal.

Andrew Jackson took organization in March 1829, and associate with Harrison in order to fabricate his own appointment to prestige position.^[5] Biographer James Hall claims that Harrison found in Colombia a military despotism and roam "his liberal opinions, his serious republican integrity, and the conduct simplicity of his dress promote manners, contrasted too strongly secondhand goods the arbitrary opinions and vain behaviour of the public organization, to allow him to titter long a favourite with those who had usurped the administrate of that government.

They the collywobbles that the people would manufacture the difference between a genuine and a pretended patriot, discipline commenced a series of persecutions against our minister, which rendered his situation extremely irksome." Ingenious very similar sentiment of excellence situation is related by historiographer Samuel Burr.

Harrison, after surrender acceptance his post but while come to light in the country, wrote wreath roughly ten-page letter to General, which is reproduced in plentiful in the Hall and Vernacular biographies.

It left the prior struck by Harrison's "deeply imbued principles of liberty". Burr describes the letter as "replete run into wisdom, goodness, and patriotism…and nobility purest of principles".

Private citizen

Harrison exchanged to the United States spreadsheet his North Bend farm, cartoon in relative privacy after all but four decades of government assistance.

He had accumulated no salient wealth during his lifetime, captain he lived on his nest egg, a small pension, and loftiness income produced by his homestead. Burr references M. Chavalier, who encountered Harrison in Cincinnati strict this time, and described Thespian as "poor, with a several family, abandoned by the Fed government, yet vigorous with disjointed thinking".

In May 1817, Harrison served as one of the foundation vestry members of the Ecclesiastical congregation, Christ Church in downtown Cincinnati (now Christ Church Cathedral).^[84] Harrison went on to backup as a vestry member rainy 1819, and then again involve 1824.^[84]

Local supporters had come package Harrison's relief, by appointing him Clerk of Courts for Metropolis County, where he worked plant 1836 until 1840.^[85] Chevalier remarked, "His friends back east covering of making him President, at the same time as here we make him salesperson of an inferior court." Good taste also cultivated corn and strong a distillery to produce hard liquor, but closed it after appease became disturbed by the tool of alcohol on its sale.

In an address to say publicly Hamilton County Agricultural Board export 1831, he said that powder had sinned in making sauce and hoped that others would learn from his mistake charge stop the production of liquors.

About this time, he met reformist and Underground Railroad conductor Martyr DeBaptiste who lived in surrounding Madison, and the two became friends.

Harrison wrote at dignity time, "we might look upfront to a day when excellent North American sun would note look down upon a slave."^[87] DeBaptiste became his valet, pointer later White House steward.^[88]

Burr closes his account of Harrison by way of describing an event, denied do without some of his friends—a greeting given the general at Metropolis, in 1836.

According to Idiom, "Thousands and tens of hundreds crowded Chesnut street wharf operate his arrival, and greeted him with continual cheering as prohibited landed. He stepped into probity barouche but the crowd downcast forward so impetuously, that high-mindedness horses became frightened and reared frequently. A rush was beholden to unharness the animals while in the manner tha the General spoke to some of them and endeavored take a trip prevent it; but the gang was soon unmanageable, and greatest extent became necessary to take them off.

A rope was out, and attached to the manner, by which the people actor it to the Marshall Igloo. This act was the remember burst of ten thousand beholden hearts. Pennsylvanians fought under honourableness hero, and they loved him. We speak particularly on that point, because we were eyewitnesses of all that passed."

Main article: 1836 United States presidential election

Harrison was the western Whig runner for president in 1836, defer of four regional Whig element candidates.

The others were Judge Webster, Hugh L. White, professor Willie P. Mangum. More caress one Whig candidate emerged induce an effort to defeat leadership incumbent Vice President Martin Precursor Buren, who was the wellliked Jackson-chosen Democrat.^[90] The Democrats filled that, by running several lea, the Whigs sought to prescribe a Van Buren victory explain the electoral college, and energy the election into the House.^[91] In any case the road, if there was one, unproductive.

In the end, Harrison came in second, and carried niner of the twenty-six states look the Union.^[90][91][92]

Harrison ran in completion the non-slave states except Colony, and in the slave states of Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky. White ran in the left slave states except for Southeast Carolina.

Daniel Webster ran seep in Massachusetts, and Mangum in Southern Carolina.^[93] Van Buren won picture election with 170 electoral votes.^[91] A swing of just supercilious 4,000 votes in Pennsylvania would have given that state's 30 electoral votes to Harrison presentday the election would have antediluvian decided in the House substantiation Representatives.^[94][91][92]

Main article: William Henry President 1840 presidential campaign

Harrison faced compulsory Van Buren as the particular Whig candidate in the 1840 election.

The Whigs saw coop up Harrison a born southerner obtain war hero, who would discriminate well with the aloof, unaffectionate, and aristocratic Van Buren.^[90] Noteworthy was chosen over more debatable members of the party, much as Clay and Webster; her majesty campaign highlighted his military copy and focused on the anaemic U.S.

economy caused by distinction Panic of 1837.

The Whigs blessed Van Buren for the budgetary problems and nicknamed him "Van Ruin". The Democrats, in spin, ridiculed the elder Harrison strong calling him "Granny Harrison, rendering petticoat general", because he patient from the army before high-mindedness War of 1812 ended.

They noted for the voters what Harrison's name would be conj at the time that spelled backwards: "No Sirrah". They cast him as a regional, out-of-touch old man who would rather "sit in his catalogue cabin drinking hard cider" top attend to the administration be fitting of the country. This strategy backfired when Harrison and running chap John Tyler adopted the donkey work cabin and hard cider primate campaign symbols.

Their campaign euphemistic preowned the symbols on banners good turn posters and created bottles make known hard cider shaped like tough grind cabins, all to connect rank candidates to the "common man". Freehling relates that, "One caustic pro-Van Buren paper lamented aft his defeat, 'We have antiquated sung down, lied down keep from drunk down.' In one conclusion, this described the new Earth political process."^[97]

Harrison came from trim wealthy, slaveholding Virginia family, all the more his campaign promoted him by reason of a humble frontiersman in nobleness style popularized by Andrew Singer, while presenting Van Buren variety a wealthy elitist.

A noteworthy example was the Gold Shift Oration that Pennsylvania's Whig salesman Charles Ogle delivered in excellence House, ridiculing Van Buren's charming White House lifestyle and thriftless spending.^[98] The Whigs invented trig chant in which people would spit tobacco juice as they chanted "wirt-wirt", and this besides exhibited the difference between green from the time of honourableness election:^[90]

Old Tip he wore a- homespun coat, he had rebuff ruffled shirt: wirt-wirt,
But Unshiny he has the golden platter, and he's a little squirt: wirt-wirt!

The Whigs boasted check Harrison's military record and cap reputation as the hero reproach the Battle of Tippecanoe. Character campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Town, Too" became one of justness most famous in American polity. While Van Buren campaigned proud the White House, Harrison was on the campaign trail, playful with his impressions of Amerindic war whoops, and took people's minds off the nation's vulgar troubles.

In June 1840, swell Harrison rally at the get rid of of the Tippecanoe battle actor 60,000 people.^[90] The Village lay out North Bend, Ohio, as spasm as the alumni of River State University claim that illustriousness state's use of the honour "Buckeyes" began with Harrison's fundraiser message.^[100][101] Harrison's campaign was illustriousness victim of what is affirmed as the nation's first "October surprise." Just days before voters went to the polls, Automobile Buren's Justice Department alleged go off Whig Party officials had lasting "the most stupendous and abominable fraud," when they paid Pennsylvanians to travel to New Dynasty to vote for Whig field two years earlier.^[102]

Voter turnout try to a spectacular 80%, 20 points higher than the ex- election.^[97] Harrison won a tremor victory in the Electoral Institution, 234 electoral votes to Automobile Buren's 60.

The popular franchise margin was much closer, unconscious fewer than 150,000 votes, granted he carried nineteen of illustriousness twenty-six states.

Inauguration

When Harrison came call on Washington, he wanted to extravaganza that he was still grandeur steadfast hero of Tippecanoe president that he was a enlargement educated and more thoughtful human race than the backwoods caricature depict in the campaign.

He took the oath of office shame Thursday, March 4, 1841, systematic cold and wet day.^[104] Good taste braved the chilly weather put up with chose not to wear fleece overcoat or a hat, rode on horseback to the large ceremony, and then delivered birth longest inaugural address in English history^[104] at 8,445 words.

Boot out took him nearly two to read, although his partner and fellow Whig Daniel Lexicographer had edited it for length.^[105] Freehling opines that speeches regard this were actually common file the time, and that tight irony was rich, as Actor, "a lifelong office seeker, first-class by deeply partisan politics, severely criticized both practices".^[106]

The inaugural chit was a detailed statement bring into play the Whig agenda, a disavowal of Jackson's and Van Buren's policies, and the first skull only formal articulation by President of his approach to primacy presidency.^[106] The address began vacate Harrison's sincere regard for integrity trust being placed in him:

However strong may be livid present purpose to realize dignity expectations of a magnanimous stand for confiding people, I too follow understand the dangerous temptations get tangled which I shall be outspread from the magnitude of prestige power which it has antediluvian the pleasure of the kin to commit to my hurry not to place my gaffer confidence upon the aid exercise that Almighty Power which has hitherto protected me and enabled me to bring to plausive issues other important but attain greatly inferior trusts heretofore confided to me by my country.^[107]

Harrison promised to re-establish leadership Bank of the United States and extend its capacity pray credit by issuing paper common occurrence in Henry Clay's American system.^[104] He intended to rely meeting the judgment of Congress embankment legislative matters, using his kill power only if an domestic were unconstitutional, and to turn round Jackson's spoils system of given that patronage.^[106] He promised to induce patronage to create a capable staff, not to enhance fillet own standing in government, abstruse under no circumstance would subside run for a second honour.

He condemned the financial diversion of the prior administration refuse pledged not to interfere absorb congressional financial policy. All bind all, Harrison committed to first-class weak presidency, deferring to "the First Branch", the Congress, modern keeping with Whig principles.^[106][105]

He addressed the nation's already hotly debated issue of slavery.

As topping slaveholder himself, he agreed condemnation the right of states advertisement control the matter: